THE CASE OF THE EXPLOSIVE
SHOES
And Other Amazing Stories from the FBI Lab
07/18/05
Remember back in 12/01,
when al Qaeda-trained terrorist Richard Reid hid explosives in his black
hiking boots, hoping to blow up a packed American Airlines flight over
the Atlantic Ocean?
He didn't succeed,
of course, thanks to an alert flight attendant who smelled sulphur and
spotted him trying to ignite his shoes. But how did we determine—and
help prove in court—just how powerful those explosive devices really
were?
We turned
to our experts in the FBI Lab. They carefully examined the
homemade shoe bombs—from the chemicals used to the "initiating
system." Then, they made a precise reconstruction of the bomb
and tested it.
The result?
You'll find the answer—with
telling photographs—on page 20 of the recently posted FBI
Laboratory 2004 annual report.
You'll also
find throughout the report more fascinating stories and information
on how the FBI Lab supported key cases. For example:
- Linking
through mitochondrial DNA testing a hair from pliers found in Scott's
Peterson's fishing boat to hairs recovered from Laci Peterson's
hairbrush—evidence that his defense lawyers
tried unsuccessfully to exclude from the trial;
- Using a
variety of tests to clearly link a headband found at the scene of
a domestic terrorist arson to William Cottrell,
who was ultimately convicted of seven counts of arson and ordered
to pay restitution of more than $3.5 million; and
- Decoding
a series of cryptic records in Spanish for a drug trafficking
case, revealing more than $54 million in disguised drug
payments, a list of names linked with the drug transactions, and
records of money sent from the U.S. to Mexico.
You'll also
find details on:
- New
and improved Lab technologies, such as 3-D Laser Scanning;
- Four new
regional mtDNA labs that will open this fall;
- The latest
counterterrorism and forensic science research;
- New international
initiatives; and
- Results
of Scientific Working Groups, which are creating improved guidelines
and standards on everything from microbial genetics to tire tread
evidence.
The underlying
message of the report? The FBI Lab is committed to working
with and supporting its local, state, national, and international partners
to protect this nation and make the world a safer place for all.
