AWARENESS BULLETIN
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HAZARDOUS DEVICES USED IN
RECENT NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS
June 3, 2020
(U//LES) During the past week, a variety of incendiary and explosive devices were used against civilian
and law enforcement targets in civil unrest demonstrations. This document serves to enhance first
responder and bomb technician awareness by highlighting current examples of these tactics and
providing guidance for safely responding to potentially hazardous devices.
(U) Current Device Examples
(U//LES) The majority of law enforcement and open source reporting indicates improvised incendiary
devices (IIDs) and commercial fireworks are the two most commonly used devices by current civil
unrest participants. Both tactics can cause serious injury and death, and significant damage to
infrastructure and automobiles.
(U) Improvised Incendiary Devices (IIDs)
(U//LES) IIDs recently employed throughout the United States include traditional Molotov cocktails
made from glass or plastic bottles filled with ignitable fluid(s) and functioned by lighting a combustible
cloth or wick. Recently, alternate variants of Molotov cocktails have been used against law enforcement
and first responders. In one instance, two D cell batteries wrapped in aluminum foil were found in the
bottom of the container. The aluminum foil may have been used to short-circuit the batteries, causing
them to heat enough to ignite the liquid.

(U//LES) Figure 1: Bottles with gasoline seized
from a vehicle en route to demonstrations in Las
Vegas, Nevada. (Source: FBI LV)

(U//LES) Figure 2: Plastic container with
gasoline and two D cell batteries wrapped
in aluminum foil. (Source: Lancaster City
Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania)

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(U//LES) Other Molotov cocktails, as seen below, are constructed of a plastic or glass bottle containing
an ignitable fluid and functioned by lighting an attached M-series1 firework.

(U//LES) Figure 3: Views of a recovered IID in Little Rock, Arkansas, constructed of a plastic water bottle, M-150 firework,
and ignitable fluid (preliminarily identified as rubbing alcohol). (Source: FBI LR)

(U//LES) Figure 4: Remnants of a glass bottle and suspected potential initiator (firework)
from an IID used in attacks against two police substations in New Haven, Connecticut.
Photo taken in metal evidence paint can. (Source: FBI NH)

(U//LES) Another IID variation includes using a hairspray can and a firework initiator.

(U//LES) Figure 5: IID-making materials found in a vehicle en route to
demonstrations in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Source: FBI LV)

1

Explosive devices commonly referred to as M-80s, M-100s, M-250s, M-1000s, and cherry bombs exceed the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission's explosive weight limits for consumer fireworks and are therefore classified as
illegal by ATF and many other law enforcement agencies.

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(U//LES) In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, several recovered IIDs were made from expended Oleoresin
Capsicum (OC) canisters. The canisters were filled with an unknown ignitable fluid, the ends were sealed
using spray foam, and a hobby fuse was inserted on one end.

(U//LES) Figure 6: IIDs recovered during civil unrest activity in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Source: FBI PG)

(U) Commercial Fireworks
(U//LES) Commercial fireworks recently employed at civil unrest events throughout the United States
include varying sizes of legal and illegal (M-series) items.
(U//LES) In Illinois, a commercial “Nuclear 24” firework artillery shell was recovered. Deployment of
similar fireworks have been used to attempt to burn police vehicles.

(U//LES) Figure 7: View of recovered firework with
“Nuclear 24” visible on the side. (Source: Chicago Police
Department)

(U//LES) In California, after an armed demonstrator functioned fireworks and injured police officers, a
search of the residence led to the recovery of more than 600 pounds of illegal fireworks and additional
weapons.

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(U//LES) Figure 8: Illegal fireworks seized from the property of an armed demonstrator in Santa Ana,
CA. (Source: FBI LA)

(U//LES) In North Carolina, a demonstrator was deploying fireworks and dropped the unspent items as he
was detained.

(U//LES) Figure 9: Fireworks seized from a
demonstrator in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Source:
FBI CE)

(U) Response Guidance

(U//LES) Figure 10: Screenshot of video taken
in Chicago, Illinois showing the impact of a
large firework thrown at police. (Source: FBI
CG)

(U//LES) The danger posed to law enforcement officers and the general public from both IIDs and
fireworks is substantial. To ensure the highest degree of safety, the following guidance is provided for
first responders.
1. (U//LES) Do not handle any potential device unless it presents a life threatening situation.

2. (U//LES) If an IID is encountered which has not been deployed as designed, contact the bomb
squad, secure the area, and wait for those with training to further assess and process the device.

3. (U//LES) For pyrotechnics/fireworks, secure the area and request assistance from trained
personnel. Do not handle the device as there is potential for injury. Do not expose the device to
water.

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4. (U//LES) All evidence collection should be done in accordance with local procedures, or contact
the FBI to receive guidance on collection in accordance with established FBI Laboratory
procedures.
(U//LES) The recovered items have not been formally examined by a laboratory and final results may
differ from the raw information contained in this Awareness Bulletin.
(U//LES) Information in this Awareness Bulletin was obtained from law enforcement personnel reporting.
Information contained in this report was coordinated with FBI Charlotte Field Office, FBI Chicago Field
Office, Chicago Police Department, Lancaster City Bureau of Police, FBI Las Vegas Field Office, FBI
Little Rock Field Office, FBI Los Angeles Field Office, FBI New Haven Field Office, FBI Pittsburgh Field
Office, FBI Sacramento Field Office, West Sacramento Police Department, FBI Terrorist Explosive Device
Analytical Center, FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate: Non-State Actor Intelligence Unit, and
FBI Critical Incident Response Group: Counter-IED Unit.
For further information or to report similar incidents, contact the NETF at NETF@fbi.gov.

(U) LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE: The information marked (U//LES) in this document is the property of the
National Explosives Task Force and may be distributed within the Federal Government (and its contractors), US
intelligence, law enforcement, public safety or protection officials and individuals with a need to know. Distribution beyond
these entities without National Explosives Task Force authorization is prohibited. Precautions should be taken to ensure this
information is stored and/or destroyed in a manner that precludes unauthorized access. Information bearing the LES caveat
may not be used in legal proceedings without first receiving authorization from the originating agency. Recipients are
prohibited from subsequently posting the information marked LES on a website or an unclassified network.

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