ATF Warns Against Dangerous Illegal Explosive Devices Ahead of New Year’s Eve
Philadelphia – As Pennsylvanians plan their New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division warns the public of the dangers of illegal explosive devices and encourages reporting their manufacture and sales for the safety of their community.
“We want Pennsylvanians to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their friends and family, and not in the emergency room or morgue,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Illegal explosive devices risk your own and your family’s safety when you use or even just handle them. Their manufacture and storage put your neighbors’ and friends’ lives at risk of deadly explosions and fires. When you buy them, you’re supporting dangerous criminal activity.”
ATF Philadelphia works with state and local fire and police agencies as well as federal law enforcement agencies like the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to prevent manufacture and sales of illegal explosive devices, and to hold perpetrators accountable.
“They’re dangerous and not festive,” says Tim Brooks, a Certified Explosive Specialist Bomb Technician from the Philadelphia Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit assigned to the ATF Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force. He is all too familiar with the danger posed by these devices, whose misuse can be deadly. “These devices are manufactured without safety oversight or quality control. They are extremely sensitive to heat, shock and friction and can go off without warning, causing serious injuries especially to eyes and limbs!”
As part of its core mission, ATF actively regulates and investigates the illegal use of explosives. Under federal explosives law, it is illegal to manufacture, store, distribute, receive or transport explosive materials without a federal explosives license or permit. Violations are punishable with up to 10 years in federal prison.
It is important to distinguish illegal explosives from regular consumer fireworks. Here are some signs that a device may be an illegal explosive device:
They are sold in a non-commercial location, such as out of a vehicle or residence.
The person with the device has no evidence of a receipt or commercial packaging, or they cannot tell you where they originally purchased it.
The device is often 1-6 inches long and up to an inch or more in diameter.
The casing resembles a roll of coins with a fuse. Some outer shells are made of cardboard tubes.
The outer covering is red, silver or brown in color.
The device looks oddly shaped and wrapped in brown paper that may be filled with an explosive material.
These devices should not be handled if you have or find one. Anyone with such explosives (or items they think may be explosives) should act with extreme care and contact their police of fire departments for guidance. Either call the ATF tip line below or 911 to turn it over. The authorities will coordinate for proper safe handling and disposal.
To protect yourself and your community ATF urges the public to report manufacturing or sales to your local police or ATF tip line at 888-ATF-BOMB (283-2662), 888-ATF-TIPS (283-8477), ATFTips@atf.gov, http://atf.gov/atf-tips, or via the ReportIt® app.
“We want everyone to ring in the new year with their eyes and limbs intact,” said DeGree. “Don’t let dangerous illegal explosives ruin your new year – or your life.”
For further information on illegal explosives, visit the ATF’s website at https://www.atf.gov/explosives/illegal-explosives.
Contact: Ben Benson, Public Information Officer (PIO), Benjamin.Benson@ATF.gov
Philadelphia Field Division
