Pillow Bombs Another Threat to Aircraft

Oct. 14, 2003

WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- U.S. airport screeners are on the lookout for jackets, pillows and toys that might hold special chemicals that could turn them into bombs.

American intelligence officials have several indications from what are described as credble, independent sources that al-Qaida is attempting to create a chemical called nitrocellulose to create an explosive devices, the Washington Post reported.

Nitrocellulose, also known as guncotton or cellulose nitrate, can be created by combining cotton or cotton-like material with nitric acid, sulfuric acid or nitroglycerine, and if dried correctly it emits no odor, the Post said.

Currently, airport screening machines cannot detect nitrocellulose but a trace-detection machine can. The Homeland Security Department's Transportation Security Administration has purchased several thousand in the past year as part of a broader effort to check for explosives in checked luggage.

The airport screeners can rub the inside of a coat or pillow with a specially treated cotton swab, the machine heats the swab and detects whether explosive chemicals are present.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20031014-080827-6154r.htm