French Terror Cop Leaked Bomb Plot Truth

Looks like the British are pretty peeved at this French anti-terrorism coordinator for revealing the true nature of the explosives used in the London bombings.

First they were military grade C4, now they're homemade TATP. The conflicting reports seem to be delibrate in order to cause confusion and throw the public off the scent. Here's the cover story for the British upset over that 'leaky' Frenchman:

French, British politics pervade bombing inquiry

In the wake of the July 7 terrorist attacks in London, Scotland Yard brought together law enforcement and intelligence officials from two dozen European countries and the United States, sharing crucial intelligence and pleading for help in tracking the bombers.

But the continentwide kumbaya was shattered when Christophe Chaboud, France's new anti-terrorism coordinator, broke the cardinal rule of the club: He leaked.

In an interview with Le Monde, Chaboud announced to the world that he knew "the nature of the explosives" used in the London bombings. It "appears to be military, which is very worrisome," he said, adding: "...How did they get them? Either by trafficking, for example, in the Balkans, or they had someone on the inside who enabled them to get them out of a military base."

First it was military-grade C4.......

London explosives have military origin

LONDON, July 13 (UPI) -- Scotland Yard has asked for European cooperation in finding how last week's London subway and bus bombers obtained military plastic explosives.

Traces of the explosive known as C4 were found at all four blast sites, and The Times of London said Scotland Yard considers it vital to determine if they were part of a terrorist stockpile. C4 is manufactured mostly in the United States, and is more deadly and efficient than commercial varieties. It is easy to hide, stable, and is often missed by traditional bomb-sniffing detection systems, the newspaper said.

Forensic scientists told the newspaper the construction of the four devices detonated in London was very technically advanced, and unlike any instructions that can be found on the Internet.

London bombers used 'military' explosives

LONDON, July 12 (UPI) -- High-grade military explosives appear to have been used in the London bombings last Thursday, a senior French counter-terrorism officer has said.

"The nature of the explosives appears to be military, which is very worrying," said Superintendent Christophe Chaboud, the chief of the French anti-terrorist police, who was in London to assist Scotland Yard with the investigation.

British intelligence officials have asked their European counterparts to check military stockpiles and commercial sites to determine is explosives are missing, European-based intelligence officials told the New York Times.

But one official said the only "concrete evidence" was that the explosives were not homemade. "We don't know if they are civil industrial or military industrial explosives."

Now they are homemade explosives, after all....

British Police Say Bombs Were Homemade

Police sources say new evidence leads them to believe the London bombs were made from acetone peroxide, and not military-style explosives as first thought. Police say traces of acetone peroxide have been found at one of the four bomb sites and at the home of one of the four suspected suicide bombers in the northern city of Leeds.

Home-made explosives: the facts

Acetone peroxide - TATP, or Mother of Satan as it is known, due to its devastating effects - is the home-made explosive that police believe was used by the London bombers. Anyone with a basic knowledge of chemistry can make it.

However, it is highly unstable, being sensitive to heat, friction and shock - even professionals have been injured while using it. What remains unclear is whether the white crystals were "plasticised'' a process which turns the material into something more resembling plastic explosive, and therefore less volatile. This may have been to ensure the bombs did not detonate early and could explain initial reports that the explosives were "military style".

There is a precedent for the use of TATP in Islamic terrorism. In 2001 the British-born ''shoe bomber'' Richard Reid, tried to blow up an airline with plasticised TATP.

Some more cover-up, and to confuse the issue.......

A Black Market for Bomb Materials Is Said to Flourish in Europe

But because TATP is so unstable, explosives experts not involved in the investigation say, it is likely that the London bombers used a combination of homemade and commercial explosives.

Security experts say it is not surprising that the authorities in London have given conflicting descriptions of the sort of bomb materials the attackers used. Even a basic explosive like TATP leaves virtually no trace, and "it is very difficult to analyze plastic explosive residue," said Jack McGeorge, who was a bomb disposal specialist with the Marine Corps and is now president of a consultancy called the Public Safety Group.

See Also: Police Get Coy About London Bomb Explosives