Homemade Explosives Alerts
///Alert - Secondary Explosive Devices (1 killed, SEVERAL INJURED)///
TO: All Regions, Companies, Squadrons, Detachments, and Operating Locations (CAT III)
SUBJECT: Safety Alert-Secondary Explosive Devices
SUMMARY: There has been a recent increase in the use of flashlights as housings for explosive devices in the United States and its territories. Essentially, individuals have booby-trapped flashlights and left them at the crime scenes, bomb and arson scenes or were their intended victim will find them. To date, these devices have killed one law enforcement officer, injured several and injured a number of civilians. The flashlights are generally metal, like the Mag-lite or Kell-lite. The batteries are removed and a small pipe bomb is inserted into the housing. The bomber then rigs the flashlight in one of two ways, either wiring the flashlight to explode when the switch is activated or setting the bomb to trigger if it is moved, by use of a purchased or improvised mercury switch. A Mag-lite rigged with an improvised motion switch claimed the life of a Puerto Rican Peace Officer. During the conduct of crime scene searched, or in any circumstance when a flashlight is encountered where it is not expected, leave the light alone. If the owner is located, allow the owner to take custody of the light. If no owner can be found contact EOD or the local bomb squad. Do not attempt to open or examine the light yourself. If the bomb squad tries to laugh at you, remind them that the Alcohol tobacco & Firearm division has reported finding about 20 of these in the last year and tell them you're not going to touch it.
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS: None.
///Alert - Homemade Hand Grenades///
TO: All Regions, Companies, Squadrons, Detachments, and Operating Locations (CAT III)
SUBJECT: Safety Alert-Homemade Hand Grenades
SUMMARY: There has is a serious threat to police officer safety. Information has been received from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department informing officers that individuals are manufacturing hand grenades from tennis balls. The tennis balls are cut and filled with a combination of "strike all" match heads and BBs or buckshot and then sealed with duct tape. When the ball is thrown against an object, the compression of the rubber allows the match heads to ignite. The resulting gaseous chain reaction causes the ball to explode expelling the BBs or buckshot as shrapnel. Tests indicate that these balls can easily blow out a car window, adding to the shrapnel. Furthermore, a ball that may be thrown at an officer can ignite causing serious injury if it strikes the officer on the head or body. Once filled and armed, the tennis ball grenades are very unstable and any compression has the potential of detonating the balls. Officers should be aware of tennis balls located during searches. Be alert for heavy tennis balls and look for the tell-tale tape seal. Milwaukee County Sheriff's have reported that Gangster Disciples from the Altgeld Gardens Project area have been stopped in the Milwaukee area. The subjects had several components of these devices in their possession. If you find one of these devices, the immediate area should be secured and the Bomb & Arson Unit notified immediately.
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS: None.
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