UNCLASSIFIED I/ FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAZARDOUS DEVICES SECTION INFORMATION BULLETIN This document is UNCLASSIFIE.D I/ FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. Further distribution of this document is restricted unless prior approval from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad is obtained. No portion of this bulletin should be released to the media or general public or over non-secure Internet servers. dversely affect or jeopardize investigative a ctivities. For questions or additional information, contact the OCSD . . .. - - - •• • - & IMPROVISED INCENDIARY DEVICES Daily media coverage of inflammatory demonstrations, civilian uprisings and terrorist attacks on U.S. Global Interests are filled with images and videos of enemy combatants, anarchists, and violent mobs utilizing a variety of conventional and improvised weaponry. With no foreseeable end to the current global situation, this trend will likely continue well into the future. Many of the groups actively involved in militant protests and subversive activities routinely utilize Improvised Incendiary Devices (IIDs) to further their campaigns of intimidation, property destruction and violence. Improvised Incendiary Devices are attractive weapons to these groups for a variety of reasons, some of which are following. The components necessary for the production of IIDs are inexpensive, readily available and simple to manufacture with minimal technical expertise. The construction techniques are easily taught to new recruits and instructions are openly accessible on the Internet or through a variety of military publications and extremist documents. One such document is the al-Qaeda publication Inspire Magazine, which in the spring of 2012 called for the use of intentionally set wildfires as a means of attacking the United States. Although no wildfires in the U.S. have been attributed to al-Qaeda related activity, recent media reporting indicates the Russian Federal Security Service credited this year's widespread forest fires throughout the European Union to the al-Qaeda tactic referred to as "forest jihad." If this information is accurate, the activity is consistent with a shift toward inexpensive, low scale attacks which are taxing on first responder resources, create fear and disruption within the impacted areas, and can be easily employed by "lone wolf' operatives who are typically more difficult to identify, interrupt and apprehend. The basic IID is comprised of three main components which include a container, the flammable substance, and an initiation method or device. Depending on the intended purpose (personal injury or destruction of property) and means of initiation (time delay or command operated) the container may vary from an 8 oz glass beverage bottle to a milk jug or even a five gallon plastic bucket. The flammable contents have a wide range from fast burning substances such as turpentine, gasoline and methanol, to mixtures with slower burn rates including motor oil, kerosene or diesel fuel. Thickening agents in the form of Styrofoam, soap or other additives may be used to produce more gelatin.ous fuels akin to homemade Napalm, which have improved target adhesion and water resistant qualities. This use of thickeners is especially prevalent in Molotov cocktail type incendiary devices. The means of initiation for IIDs can be as simple as an ignited rag soaked in flammable liquid or a kitchen timer paired with a battery and electric match. More sophisticated initiation systems can also be utilized, but usually the more complicated the device is, the higher the chance of failure. California Penal Code 453(b){2} defines an incendiary device as one which "is constructed or designed to start an incendiary fire by remote, delayed, or instant means." California Health and Safety Code 12504 defines flammable liquids as those "whose flashpoint is 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or less, when tested pursuant to Standard D56-70 of the American Society for Testing and Materials." California Penal Code 16460 also classifies Molotov cocktail type devices as destructive devices, provided they are constructed of a "breakable container that contains a flammable liquid with a flashpoint of 150 degrees Fahrenheit or less and has a wick or similar device capable of being ignited." A common misconception among the general public is that firebombs such as Molotov cocktails or similar I IDs "explode" Bulletin Date: 10-12-2012 UNCLASSIFIED II FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Form #e9ffe9ed-641e-4869-978b-5d51bd53e15c Inv. C. Jensen UNCLASSIFIED I/ FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY like conventional or improvised explosives. This is not normally the case, and frequently leads to confusion as to what investigative details should be requested and/or are tasked with handling these types of crimes. Generally speaking, 11D scenes do not display evidence of a post blast scene, such as overpressure damage or fragmentation UNLESS some type of explosive was used in the construction of the device. If an explosive device or explosives are suspected, or if the contents of a suspected 11D are not readily visible, first responders should contact the OCSD Bomb Squad for guidance. In many jurisdictions, the local bomb squads are also assigned to investigate and process arson related scenes; however, in the Orange County Operational Area, this is not the practice. Arson related crimes in Orange County are handled by the appropriate Arson Investigations Detail assigned to the city or area in which the crime occurs. The Orange County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad handles violations and investigations pertaining to the use of pyrotechnics, explosives and explosive devices; if there is a question as to whether an explosive material or a flammable substance was used, or the event involves an unknown type of device which has failed to function, the OCSD Bomb Squad will respond and investigate as needed. In any event involving an unknown type device which has not yet functioned, first responders should always err on the side of caution by treating the item as an explosive device until proven otherwise. Precautions may include sheltering in place or implementing evacuations if necessary, establishing appropriate perimeters, shielding personnel behfnd hard cover and requesting an OCSD Bomb Squad field response. Improvised Incendiary Device - Request Arson Investigations - Improvised Explosive Device - Request Bomb Squad - Explosively Initiated Incendiaries - Request Bomb Squad - If effectively employed, an 110 may leave minimal forensic evidence connecting arsonists to the crime, for this reason, a disproportionately high percentage of arsons remain unsolved and an even lower number are prosecuted. Even at times when devices fail to function as designed, the lack of any injury or extensive property damage may lead first responders to casually handle some of these scenes as experimentation or "victimless" crimes. Proper notifications to the appropriate investigative detail and collection/processing of evidence by trained personnel is of paramount importance under these circumstances. While the activity may be viewed as nothing more than horseplay, it may in reality be committed for insurance fraud, revenge, intimidation or crime concealment purposes. Additionally, the use of I IDs is a common terrorist and anarchist tactic and may be part of a larger picture that is not immediately recognizable to field personnel. The device may be a valuable pre-incident indicator (trial run) or the location and/or individual may actually be the specific target of an extremist group. If a suspected arson related event occurs in your jurisdiction, contact the appropriate Arson Investigations Detail assigned to your response area. If you are unsure of what number to call, contact your local fire department. If there is a possibility that the incident may involve pyrotechnics, explosives, or explosive devices, whether contained in the device itself, or added as a means of initiation, contact the OCSD Bomb Squad for a field response. BOMB SQUAD - ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Bulletin Date: 10-12-2012 UNCLASSIFIED II FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Form #e9ffe9ed-641e-4869-978b-5d51bd53e15c Inv. C. Jensen