A packet was discovered under the seat of Samajwadi Party MLA Mano Pandey inside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Thursday. The packet had white powder inside. Forensic tests revealed that the substance was PETN, a plastic explosive. It is the most dangerous of its kind.
The packet, which weighed around 150 g, was found under the seat of Samajwadi Party MLA Mano Pandey. The forensic laboratory has identified the powder substance to be a plastic explosive PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate). Addressing the assembly session on Friday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “This is PETN, this is a dangerous substance. It will be revealed who is behind this. Police verification should be conducted of every security personnel.”
Here is everything you need to know about PETN:
What is PETN?
PETN or Pentaerythritol tetranitrate is one of the most dangerous plastic explosive. The substance is available in black market, and belongs to the same family as nitroglycerin. It is preferred by militant groups because it cannot be easily detected owing to its colourless crystals. Majority of explosive detectors use metal detectors, but PETN can be kept hidden in a sealed container or an electrical equipment and thus can easily surpass security checks.
According to a 2010 report by The Guardian, several countries have severe restrictions on purchase of PETN which can be bought in powder form or thin plastic sheet. The substance is legally used by the military and in mining industries where it is used in detonators for detonating cords and mines. PETN can be mixed with other chemicals to form Semtex.
How does it operate?
PETN does not go on its own. The explosive needs a secondary detonating mechanism to produce heat or a shockwave, which can detonate the explosive. James Crippin, a Colorado explosives expert, told CBS in an interview in 2009 that the substance is stable and safe to handle, but it requires a primary explosive to detonate it. The device, according to The Guardian, mostly relies on plastic cap to set it off.