Boston Bombs Made With Explosives In Pressure Cookers

The warped metal casing testifies to the power of the deadly blast which brought terror to the jubilant spectators at the race's finish line. On the strength of debris found at the scene, investigators said they believe pressure cookers were used to amplify the explosion.

And the pictures appear to show one of the stainless steel cookers, complete with a lab number and the phrase "gas and electric".

Scraps of a black padded duffle bag were also found at the scene - leading investigators to believe the bombs were disguised as discarded possessions.

Ball bearings and headless nails were packed around the explosives in a bid to make the blasts more lethal. Security sources said two of the everyday kitchen appliances were placed on the street near the race’s finishing line.

Shards of metal and ball bearings were believed to be stuffed inside one of the six-litre cookers, while the other was packed with nails. Both were hidden inside black nylon bags.

Investigators say “blast caps” attached to the pans may then have been detonated remotely by a watching assassin, possibly using a mobile phone. 

The simple but deadly technique is popular on the Afghan border and taught in terror camps to jihadists.

 

Former al-Qaeda warlord Anwar al-Awlaki once printed a DIY guide in how to make bombs from pressure cookers.

It is the biggest hint yet that al-Qaeda may be involved in the attack which killed three and maimed scores more — many critically — during Monday’s race.

However, the FBI was still exploring the theory that the bombings may have been the work of a lone far-right psychopath from the US. 

Cops said yesterday that no one had yet claimed responsibility for the sickening attack — but vowed to catch them.

Source: The Sun UK