It is being claimed that the blast in Delhi was carried out with ammonium nitrate-fueled oil-detonator.
Delhi Blast: The car explosion that took place on Monday evening near the Red Fort metro station in the national capital Delhi has shaken the entire country. Nine people lost their lives in the blast that took place around 6:52 pm on Monday evening, while 20 people were injured. Earlier it was feared that Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used in this blast. Now it is being told that ammonium nitrate was used in it. What is the truth or which explosive was used, it will become clear after forensic investigation.
In the name of this explosion in Delhi, let us know what kind of explosives are used by terrorists all over the world and what happens in them? What is its impact?
The blast in Delhi was so severe that the ground in the surrounding area trembled. The blast took place in a Hyundai i-20 car, which was parked near Sunehri Masjid for about three hours before the incident. It is worth noting that just before this blast, on Monday morning, the police of Jammu and Kashmir and Faridabad of Haryana had conducted a joint operation and recovered a huge quantity of IED making chemical, weapons as well as ammunition from two houses. That is why there was a growing suspicion that IED might have been used in this blast. However, before this it was also revealed that several hundred kilos of ammonium nitrate had been recovered. All these have been used in terrorist activities.
Picture of the incident site after the blast.
Large scale use of IED
Terrorists, militants and Naxalites etc. have been using IED on a large scale as an explosive. IED is nothing but a kind of hand made bomb. It is also called a makeshift bomb, because it can be prepared easily and at low cost at home. To detonate an IED, they often use methods like remote control, infrared or magnetic triggers, pressure-sensitive bars or trip wires.
Not only this, many times Naxalites and terrorists spread them on the roadside with the help of wire, due to which an explosion occurs as soon as the wheel of the vehicle hits it. As soon as an IED explodes, a fire occurs on the spot, because a deadly incendiary chemical is used in it.IED is also used in many other forms. Terrorists use them in the form of small pipe bombs to huge bombs that cause massive destruction.
Fertilizer, gun powder and hydrogen peroxide can be used as explosives in IED.
This word appeared for the first time in Iraq war
The term IED first appeared during the Iraq War that started in 2003. Many things are used in making IED. It consists of initiator, switch, mains charge, power source and a container. Additional things like nails and glass etc. are wrapped and packed on the IED, so that it causes maximum damage during the blast.
Very easily available things are used as explosives in IED, like fertilizer, gun powder and hydrogen peroxide can be used as explosives. Along with these explosives, fuel and oxidizer are also required, which provides oxygen which helps in the chemical reaction for the blast.
Ammonium nitrate is also used
Terrorist activities have also been carried out using ammonium nitrate. As an explosive it is used in the form of ANFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel). Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound like crystal. Quickly soluble in water, ammonium nitrate is made by the reaction of ammonia and nitric acid.
To use ammonium nitrate as an explosive, a primary explosive, detonator like RDX or TNT is required. Being highly flammable, there is a possibility of explosion due to fire. It can also explode if it comes in contact with any explosive mixture. During large-scale storage, oxidation causes it to catch fire and produce massive explosions of heat.
RDX among the world’s deadliest explosives
It is not possible to talk about a bomb blast and not have the name of RDX mentioned. It has been used extensively in wars and terrorists have also been using it to terrorize the world. The full chemical name of RDX is Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine. It is a white but odorless and extremely powerful explosive. It has been used in armies as well as industries. RDX is also called cyclonite and hexogen in scientific language.
RDX.
Germany used this in its weapons during the Second World War. Then it was called hexogen and cyclonite in America and Britain. RDX is counted among the most deadly explosives in the world. That is why instead of using it alone, it is mixed with plastic explosives like C-4.
These are also used
TNT, PETN, Semtex and plastic blast C-4 are actually used primarily in the military and industries. Yet these powerful explosives often fall into the hands of terrorists and criminals and they do not hesitate to use them.
Also read: How many attacks were made on the Red Fort of the Mughals, what was looted? Came into limelight due to Delhi blast