A 2012 ATF presentation discussing the chemical analysis of exploding target products such as Tannerite,
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
(U//LES) ATF Chemical Analysis of Exploding Targets
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
(U//LES) U.S. Bomb Data Center Report: Attacks on Houses of Worship 2011-2015
This report serves to present information and analysis associated with fire, arson, and bombing incidents at houses of worship (HOWs) occurring within the United States for the past 5 years, between January 2011 through December 2015, and reported to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In total, there were 733 fire and explosion related incidents, per ATF reporting, for all 50 States. The information contained herein does not represent all fire, arson and bombing incidents for the United States. This report only represents those incidents that have been reported to and investigated by ATF.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Explosives Task Force Advisory: Fireworks as Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Components
Fireworks are a common component used in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The US Government is asking consumer fireworks retailers to be aware of this phenomenon and familiarize themselves with some possible indicators of suspicious activity. This list is not inclusive, nor is it intended to limit the lawful conduct of innocent persons. The totality of behavioral indicators and other relevant circumstances should be considered.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
(U//FOUO) U.S. Bomb Data Center Assessment: Criminal Bombers Use Curiosity and Greed to Lure Victims
Some criminal bombers exploited their victims’ sense of greed or general curiosity by hiding improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside common everyday items and leaving them as discarded merchandise to be found by the victim. Victims then perceived these situations as an unexpected opportunity to obtain an object of value with no associated cost. The devices utilized victim-operated switches rather than command or time switches. While a seemingly discarded working tool or item could be considered an enticement in itself, the lack of a written note or similar enticement distinguished these bombing incidents from other IEDs that utilized written messages to bait the victim. Recent bombing incidents in Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona, might be another example of this tactic.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF List of Explosive Materials October 2011
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Commerce in Explosives: List of Explosive Materials published in the Federal Register October 19, 2011.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, White House
White House ATF Fast and Furious Emails and Documents
Emails and documents related to the ongoing investigation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ “Fast and Furious”/Project Gun Runner program leaked to CBS. Includes a map of distribution routes for weapons involved in the program leading to locations throughout Mexico.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
(U//FOUO/LES) LulzSec Release: ATF Project Gunrunner Southwest Border Strategy Weapons of Choice
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Project Gunrunner Southwest Border Strategy Weapons of Choice from February 2008.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(U//FOUO/LES) FBI/ATF Indicators and Warnings for Homemade Explosives
This booklet is a quick reference guide describing indicators and warnings related to homemade explosives. It is intended to aid military, federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel to visually recognize the materials, chemicals, and equipment associated with the manufacture of homemade explosives. The examples in this guide were selected based on historical incidents, intelligence on emerging threats, and the commercial availability of the components. Given the variety of substitute materials available for the manufacture of homemade explosives, this guide should not be considered all inclusive. Instead, it should be used to establish a basic understanding of typical materials, chemicals, and equipment associated with the manufacture of homemade explosives and to enable on-scene personnel to determine if they are dealing with a potentially dangerous situation.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
(U//LES) ATF Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) and the Military 2010 Report
In January 2009, the ATF Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (OSII) disseminated the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) and the Military report to numerous local, State, Federal, and military law enforcement agencies, as well as several foreign law enforcement agencies experiencing similar problems. Enclosed in the report were maps and charts depicting active duty, prior service, and/or retired military personnel who were current members of a documented 1% OMG (these are OMGs that are accepted by law enforcement to be specifically engaged in criminal activity). ATF OSII also reported on current 1% OMG members who were employed on military compounds, bases, instillations, and Federal buildings in the United States and abroad.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
(U//LES) ATF Project Gunrunner Mexican Cartel Strategy
Based on the areas in Mexico controlled by the Gulf, Zetas, and Sinaloa cartels; the locations of U.S.-sourced firearm recoveries in Mexico; and the U.S. locations where firearms recovered in Mexico are most often acquired, the Houston and Phoenix Field Divisions will be primarily responsible for investigating trafficking schemes associated with these cartels. However, this strategy is not intended to limit the initiative of any ATF field division and in fact recognizes the increasingly important role played by non-Southwest border field divisions in combating firearms and explosives trafficking to Mexico. As a result, all ATF field divisions are expected to initiate investigations on cartels and/or their surrogates operating in their geographic areas of responsibility; however, investigations pertaining to the Gulf, Zetas, and Sinaloa cartels must be deconflicted and closely coordinated with the Houston and Phoenix Field Divisions.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF Law Enforcement Guide to Firearm Types
ATF Law Enforcement Guide to Gun Types, April 2006.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF Southwest Border Gunrunner Weapons of Choice Guide
Law Enforcement Use Only ATF Border Gunrunner Weapons of Choice Guide February 2008.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF American/Canadian Northern Border Extremists
According to information obtained via the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the number of hate groups operating with the United States has risen and continues to rise. In 2006, law enforcement intelligence and SPLC information counted 844 organizations in 2007; this number has risen to 888, an increase of approximately 4.7 percent. This number may seem small; however, during an 8-year time period, this has translated into a 48-percent jump in the number of groups since 2000, when there were 602 hate groups operating in the United States, according to research by the intelligence project of the SPLC. Much of the expansion has been driven by hate groups’ exploitation of the issue of illegal immigration, which most Americans see as a pressing concern. This overview addresses the issue of American and Canadian extremism in Canada and in those States that fall along the American-Canadian border.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF Letter and Package Bomb Detection Techniques
ATF Letter and Package Bomb Detection Techniques Brochure from August 1996.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF (CUI) School Firearms Related Violence and Incidents Overview 2005-2007
The purpose of this report is to provide information as it relates to the phenomenon of school firearms violence. This report provides an overview of school firearms violence, and through the examination of ATF case information, attempts have been made to possibly identify the kinds of individuals who are most likely to commit and/or plan a school firearms violence incident.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF North Carolina Explosives Theft Warning
On October 23, 2008, ATF received notification of an explosives theft from B.R.S. Inc. B.R.S. advised that sometime between October 20th and October 23rd, unknown suspect(s) cut the locks to their Type II storage magazine and stole two cases of ORICA Magnum Ultra HW. The stolen explosives are described as being 2” by 16” sticks and were distributed among two cases. A full case weighs approximately 55 pounds. After an inventory reconciliation was conducted, it was determined that approximately 88 pounds of Magnum Ultra HW was stolen.
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
ATF Assessment: Use of Natural Gas as a Terrorist Weapon in Apartment Buildings
At a June 2004 press conference, then Deputy Attorney General James Comey outlined the case against Jose Padilla, the so-called “dirty bomber” suspect, and his connections to al-Qaeda.1 Jose Padilla gained notoriety for the alleged plan to use a radiological dispersal device (RDD). However Padilla’s plot to utilize natural gas to blow up apartment buildings in the United States did not seem to draw as much attention as the plan to utilize a RDD. There has been very little discussion pertaining to his plot to cause a catastrophic fire/explosion event at apartment buildings using natural gas.