Bomb-making materials awareness program launches in Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management launched a new program to help spread awareness on bomb-making materials.
It’s called the Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program.
Funding for the program is provided by the State Homeland Security Grant Program from Gov. Greg Abbott’s Public Safety Office.
“BMAP is one way our office is increasing capacity beyond emergency management response,” said Ken Snipes, HSEM Director. “Prevention and risk management are key tenets of our work. This program will allow us to expand outreach to the business community to help prevent domestic terrorism.”
The program is a counter-terrorism risk management program.
It focuses on restricting “malicious actors” from:
explosive precursor chemicals
explosive powders
exploding target materials
associated components
delivery methods
HSEM staff will reach out to businesses in specific industries that might sell those types of supplies.
“Bomb making materials are readily available at beauty supply stores, hardware stores, pool supply stores, sporting goods, home improvement, and others.”
Quentin O’Bryan, Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program Manager
The plan is to educate those businesses about the types of products they sell that can be used for homemade explosives and how to recognize and report suspicious activity.
O’Bryan said there are approximately 80,000 businesses in Texas that sell or distribute products containing chemicals that can be used to make a bomb.
“Fertilizer, hair developer, pool sanitizers, nail polish removal, and drain cleaning,” O’Bryan listed.
Businesses are asked to practice the RACK system:
Recognize products within your inventory that can be used to make bombs
Ask for customer I.D. and note suspicious purchases
Check your inventory and report missing or stolen products
Know your customers and report suspicious purchases or behaviors
“Our retail partners can be the first line of defense against helping to alert law enforcement to suspicious buying patterns and buying behaviors that could be linked to potential criminal or terrorist activity in our communities.”
Brandon Gentry, Texas Office of Homeland Security at DPS
Over the coming months, staff will connect with hundreds of businesses in the area to educate them on this program.
In a news release, the HSEM wanted to remind people that, “factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity are not suspicious.”
People are encouraged to report only suspicious behavior and situations.
‘Keep an eye on what’s going on’
The Beauty Store Salon and Spa in Austin always has nail polish remover stocked on its shelves.
“We carry nail supply, brushes, combs, and then some gifting,” said store manager Kamryn Denton.
Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN) Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN) Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN) Denton said Beauty Store Salon & Spa has been around since 1988. (Photo: KXAN)
Nail polish remover is a common purchase for her customers. Using it for bomb-making supplies was never on her radar.
“Wouldn’t have thought us to be you know, a place where you could get bomb making materials at all.”
Kamryn Denton, Beauty Store Salon and Spa Manager
But now that she’s aware, Denton said she’ll be cautious.
“It is such a small space that you would for sure notice if there was somebody suspicious or if they were taking a lot,” Denton said. “It’s a great way to kind of keep an eye on what’s going on.”
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