Israel Hezbollah/Lebanon War

[Wolfhound]

So you think they planted explosives in thousands of New pagers going to Hezbollah?
How in the world did they accomplish that feat?
Can you give a brief explanation how this could go down and how it would work?

The article I posted (and Route45) explains it. Even mentioned what kind of explosives they used.

 

[DadSmith]

Hezbollah pager explosions caused by high explosive PETN planted by Israel’s Mossad: report

Mossad agents reportedly placed a highly explosive material inside the batteries of the pagers.

nypost.com

Israel has not said they have done this....

So it was something to do with the batteries.
Isn't that stuff very unstable?

 

[Wolfhound]

Israel has not said they have done this....

So it was something to do with the batteries.
Isn't that stuff very unstable?

From the article:

Mossad agents reportedly placed Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a highly explosive material, inside the batteries of the pagers, sources told Sky News Arabia, according to a translation from the Times of Israel.

It says Mossad somehow intercepted the shipment of pagers and worked their magic.

 

[DadSmith]

From the article:

Mossad agents reportedly placed Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a highly explosive material, inside the batteries of the pagers, sources told Sky News Arabia, according to a translation from the Times of Israel.

I read that but that explosive is unstable isn't it? Kinda like nitroglycerin?

 

[Principal Skinr]

This gives a whole new meaning to "burner phone."

 

[Wolfhound]

I read that but that explosive is unstable isn't it? Kinda like nitroglycerin?

I am not sure about that. I know we have a couple EOD guys on here that might know. I do know you won’t get that kind of bang from normal batteries. Just not possible in my opinion.

 

[firecadet613]

The article I posted (and Route45) explains it. Even mentioned what kind of explosives they used.

IIRC, didn't they hide a bomb at some leaders house months ago and waited to set it off until he was there?

 

[Route 45]

I read that but that explosive is unstable isn't it? Kinda like nitroglycerin?

Cargo plane bomb plot: what is PETN?

Why the powerful plastic explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate has become the weapon of choice for terrorists

www.theguardian.com

"As explosives go, PETN is reasonably stable. The substance is usually detonated by a secondary device that produces heat or a shockwave. PETN is difficult to detonate with a naked flame, as demonstrated by the shoe bomber Richard Reid, who tried to bring down an American Airlines flight in 2001 with PETN concealed in one of his boots. More often, a blasting cap is used to set it off."

 

[Wolfhound]

IIRC, didn't they hide a bomb at some leaders house months ago and waited to set it off until he was there?

Yes, that was inside Iran. Amazing stuff.

 

[DadSmith]

Cargo plane bomb plot: what is PETN?

Why the powerful plastic explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate has become the weapon of choice for terrorists

www.theguardian.com

"As explosives go, PETN is reasonably stable. The substance is usually detonated by a secondary device that produces heat or a shockwave. PETN is difficult to detonate with a naked flame, as demonstrated by the shoe bomber Richard Reid, who tried to bring down an American Airlines flight in 2001 with PETN concealed in one of his boots. More often, a blasting cap is used to set it off."

I was thinking it was to unstable to be put in a pager, heat, bouncing around, being dropped etc.

 

[Route 45]

 

[Mgderf]

I was thinking it was to unstable to be put in a pager, heat, bouncing around, being dropped etc.

Nope.
It takes quite a bit of heat or concussion to set it off.
I don't believe you can set it off with a hammer.
It takes considerable force/heat to detonate.

 

[Leadeye]

PETN is usually mixed with other things to make the actual explosive.

 

[DadSmith]

PETN is usually mixed with other things to make the actual explosive.

So by itself it's unstable?

 

[EOD Guy]

I read that but that explosive is unstable isn't it? Kinda like nitroglycerin?

PETN is very stable and has a high melting and decomposition tempature. I “HIGHLY” doubt the overheated battery set it off. If I was to swag it, they installed a blasting cap that had extra room for a small PETN charge added to it….like an extra powerful cap.

 

[EOD Guy]

So by itself it's unstable?

Not unstable at all. It’s very stable, doesn’t react with most metals, non-hydroscopic and takes a lot to get it to detonate.

PETN would be a great choice as it is naturally a powder and can be “pressed” into a solid…kinda like how acetylsalicylic acid (a powder) is pressed into a tablet (solid). They could use this to their advantage to shape it to fill any voids to get the most “bang for their buck” (pun intended).

 

[DadSmith]

Not unstable at all. It’s very stable, doesn’t react with most metals, non-hydroscopic and takes a lot to get it to detonate.

PETN would be a great choice as it is naturally a powder and can be “pressed” into a solid…kinda like how acetylsalicylic acid (a powder) is pressed into a tablet (solid). They could use this to their advantage to shape it to fill any voids to get the most “bang for their buck” (pun intended).

Exactly why you are the guy to ask.
Thanks for providing information.
It amazes me how they can pack enough explosive in pagers to do that much damage.

 

[EOD Guy]

Cargo plane bomb plot: what is PETN?

Why the powerful plastic explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate has become the weapon of choice for terrorists

www.theguardian.com

"As explosives go, PETN is reasonably stable. The substance is usually detonated by a secondary device that produces heat or a shockwave. PETN is difficult to detonate with a naked flame, as demonstrated by the shoe bomber Richard Reid, who tried to bring down an American Airlines flight in 2001 with PETN concealed in one of his boots. More often, a blasting cap is used to set it off."

Just as a FYI, Richard Reid’s problem was the time fuse he used had a black power core. Being in his shoes, on his feet, interrogated by French police, for a long time, allowed the black powder to absorb moisture. Add that most time fuse is not easy to light (not like firework fuse) unless you fish-scale it with a knife to expose the core. The repeated attempts to light damp black powder (being a few months after 9/11), gave flight attendants and passengers time to pounce on him before he could light the fuse.

 

[EOD Guy]

Exactly why you are the guy to ask.
Thanks for providing information.
It amazes me how they can pack enough explosive in pagers to do that much damage.

Not hard at all…the electronics and programming would be more of a challenge than making the initiator with an extra surprise. If you see my name, that’s what I do, military EOD. Been there, done that, have the t-shirt, retirement check and still have 10 fingers.

 

[indyblue]

Imagine if they could do this to cellphones. Of course they call them first. Be right up against terrorist noggins then boom.