CONFIDENTIAL
The Bombs
In the early stages bombs tended to lack strength and to be of simple crudo design. Danger of death from an explosion was not great. As the campaign has progressed, devices have tended to become more sophisticated in design and of greater power. Many are now extremoly
lethal.
9. The explosive substance in most cases is gunpowder either extracted from Commercialfirecrackers or hone-made from basic ingredients. A number of bombs, however, have contained dynamite and gelignite. The extent of stocks held by the communists is not known, but although the measures takon to control fireworks and commercial explosives must necessarily reduce the amount readily available, sources of supply are now difficult to establish. Smuggling of explosives and use of a black market in commercial explosives are but two methods, To maintain the terrorist campaign at its present intensity does not in any event require large quantities.
10. The casings for bombs have varied from oil cans and milk and cigarette tims to water pipes and properly cast grenade casings, some of them fragmented. The latter require some technical skill, readily available amongst members of various unions including plumbers, metal workers, etc. Most casings appear to be of simple home-made design, but one type of grenade is believed to be similar to those used by East River Column guerillas against K.M.T. forces in the pre 1944 struggle.
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Fuses have varied from simple firecracker fuses to ingenious olectrical devices and timing mechanisms, including parking meter clocks. Firing plungers and detonators have also been used. Some of these require technical skill, but most are simple and can be assembled after the minimum of instruction.
12.
There have been a number of incendiary devices discovered which contain petrol and other inflammable materials,
13. Thus, it may be seen that whilst a degree of sophistication has been introduced, the professionalism in the manufacture of bombs is limited.
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There are indications that in many cases the casings are supplied to a fighting group to be filled and primed before use, In other cases the group is left to its own devices to produce the entiro bomb.
It seems, therefore, that there is no large bomb factory although it is likely that casings are cast or made in one of a number of centres for local distribution. Instruction in assembly and handling is a simple matter and in at least one case classes are believed to be held in left wing premises for this purpose, The mosquito press has also carried instructional articles on manufacture. School laboratories are also a possible source of instruction and manufacture and information has been received that physics teachers of communist schools are so enguged.
15. In brief, bombs can be made virtually anywhere by anyone with tho minimum of training. Lack of thorough preparation in many cases is indicated by the number of terrorists blown up by their own bombs.
CONFIDENTIAL
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