Other tools to identify chemicals include Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, techniques that detect the telltale vibrations of molecules. ![]() These give a more detailed analysis of the explosive’s chemical composition. If there is enough residue, Oxley adds, swabs can be run through an ion mobility spectrometer, or ion scanner-the same machine Transportation Security Administration agents use to analyze wet-swabs of people’s hands. ![]() When a swab of the suspicious device is placed on the kit, chemical reactions cause a color change that indicate the presence of common explosives. These handheld kits come preloaded with different chemicals. Colorimetric kits are a common tool used to detect tiny traces of explosive, Oxley says. ![]() They use technologies similar to the ones used for airport security screening. Once investigators determine it is safe to open the package, they look for residues of chemical explosives on the pipe bomb or other device. X-ray images can tell them how big the device is, reveal its components and understand its detonating circuitry so they do not accidentally trigger it. and many of them, maybe all, use little x-ray machines to get an idea of what’s inside” a suspicious package, Oxley says. X-ray images showed, for instance, that the packages mailed this week contained pipe bombs-devices that consist of explosive material in a pipe with a fuse. You can glean a lot from an x-ray scan, says Jimmie Oxley, a chemistry professor and co-director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center of Excellence for Explosives, Detection, Mitigation and Response. These bots can also be loaded with x-ray kits and other diagnostic tools. But, Lamberty says, “ideally, if you can work remotely, you will.” This means using a wirelessly controlled bomb-disposal robot to relay high-resolution images with its camera and manipulate the package with its mechanical arm. Technicians in bomb suits can scan them up close. Standard protocol calls for an explosive ordnance disposal technician to thoroughly evaluate the package from the outside without touching it. “A dog is a search tool, and I’m above general search,” he says. Dogs are typically used to find something hidden. Especially if the package went through an x-ray machine in a mail-screening process and someone raised a flag based on what they saw inside. Responders would typically not use sniffer dogs in an intercepted mail scenario like this week’s, says Marc Lamberty, a retired bomb squad technician who now works for the private security firm MSA Security. How do law enforcement officials determine whether a suspicious mailed package is a real threat? ![]() But they were just tape-bound, bubble wrap–lined manila envelopes. Cory Booker and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper-looked dubious enough to be caught before they could cause harm. Barack Obama, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and, most recently, New Jersey Sen. The packages found so far-whose intended recipients include former Pres. Authorities have now arrested Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Fla., in connection with the bombs, according to news reports. Since Monday at least 12 potentially explosive devices have been found in or intercepted on their way to the mailboxes of Democratic political leaders, prominent public figures and CNN’s New York City office.
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