Explosives
Explosives
Mission
The Explosives Unit (EU) conducts examinations of evidence associated with bombing matters. The unit conducts forensic examinations of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), incendiary devices, and their respective remains, while providing expert witness testimony in court regarding the results of these examinations. The EU also provides direct field support in bombing matters, bombing crime scene investigations, and searches of bomb factories and safe houses in which bombs or bomb components may be encountered.
The Team
Supervisory special agents (examiners), physical scientists (forensic examiners), chemists (forensic examiners), physical scientist, physical science technicians, and technical information specialists
The Work
- Manage critical program(s) and/or long-term projects relating to the forensic analysis of bombing matters;
- Maintain the Explosives Reference File (ERF) and the Explosives Reference Tool (Expert) database;
- Conduct training in bombing crime scene investigations and terrorist bombing matters;
- Perform chemical analyses to determine the type of explosives used in an improvised explosive or incendiary device; and
- Assist investigators in determining if debris from a fire of suspicious origin has an accelerant present.
