The Threat
Terrorist groups around the world have for many years misused fertilisers to make explosive devices. The majority of these devices have contained ammonium nitrate based products, combined with other materials to produce explosives. Other fertilisers such as urea, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate have also been misused.
Even in relatively small quantities, ammonium fertiliser-based explosives can cause a great deal of destruction. Many of the most notorious terrorist attacks of the last 15 years - from Oklahoma City to Omagh - were carried out using fertiliser-based explosive devices.
United Kingdom
The UK has a history of terrorist attacks using fertiliser based explosives dating back to the early 1970s. The Northern Ireland 'troubles' saw both Republican and Loyalist terrorist groups deploying explosive devices containing fertiliser which resulted in significant fatalities, injuries and damage. More recently, dissident Republican groups such as the 'Real' IRA (RIRA) and the Continuity IRA (CIRA) have rejected the Good Friday agreement and still pose a serious threat to the UK mainland and Northern Ireland.
International terrorists also pose a significant threat to the UK and UK interests abroad. The events of 7th July 2005 in London demonstrate both the capability and intent of groups in launching attacks that are either inspired or coordinated by radical, extremist groups based overseas such as Al Qaida.
Key attacks in the UK using fertiliser based explosives
- 1996 - South Quay, London Docklands
- 1996 - Manchester
- 1998 – Omagh, Co. Tyrone
- 2001 – BBC TV Centre, London
- 2001 – Ealing Broadway, London
- 2001 – Birmingham (failed to fully detonate)
Overseas
Groups such as FARC (Columbia), ETA (Spain), Hezbollah (Israel and Occupied Territories), Tamil Tigers (Sri Lanka) and Al Qaida (international) have all used fertiliser based explosives, again with devastating results. Notable attacks have included:
- 1993 – World Trade Centre, New York
- 1994 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 1995 – Oklahoma City, US
- 2002 – Bali, Indonesia
- 2003 – British Consulate, Istanbul
- 2006 – Mumbai, India
It should be noted that all of these attacks combined (both UK and overseas), which killed over 700 people and caused billions of pounds worth of damage, used a total of less than 12 tonnes of fertiliser. This is only about half a lorry load of fertiliser.
For more information about the current terrorist threat to the UK see www.mi5.gov.uk.
