Explosives Incidents: Further Information

Newrisk Limited is available to advise organisations and governments on explosives incidents, blast mitigation and related issues. Newrisk Limited and its principal adviser, Dr Leivesley, have previously provided media commentary, lectures, conference papers, workshops and publications on this topic, examples of which are set out below. To return to an overview of Newrisk Limited's explosives incidents expertise, please click here.

To request Newrisk Limited's assistance in connection with explosives incidents, or to discuss a tailored package of services, please contact Newrisk Limited directly.

Media Commentary

Newrisk Limited's principal adviser, Dr Leivesley, have provided media commentary on explosives incidents, including:

• Profile and radicalisation of terrorist in Westminster Attack, for BBC Radio Scotland on 24 March 2017;
• Westminster Terror Attack Description for Channel 7 Sunrise (Australia) and Channel 9 Today (Australia) on 24 March 2017;
• Westminster Terror Attack and Citizen Aid App for ITV This Morning (England) on 24 March 2017: '"If families know you're not in that location that means the initial fear isn't there to start with." Sally said it's important to treat any unusual behavior as a threat rather than assuming it's an accident of some sort. She added: "Any unusual sounds and activities may be a terrorist attack and may save people's lives."'
• Aviation Laptop and other electronics banned from cabin baggage for some airlines and airports announced by USA and UK for ITV This Morning (England) and also for BBC Jeremy Vine Radio (England), BBC News at One (England) and Channel 4 News (England) on 22 March 2017;
• Aviation Laptop and Electronics Ban for BBC Today (England) on 22 March 2017: '"We have seen viable printer bombs in the hold' Dr Sally Leivesley, an aviation adviser to companies and governments, says the ban on electronic devices in the cabin of some planes is a smart move that is "probably overdue."' as also cited: 'Sally Leivesley, a security consultant, said that a bomb inside a printer had been intercepted in Britain but that it had almost slipped through the net. “On board were devices in printers that were so well disguised that even the bomb experts couldn’t initially find them because the printer ink had been replaced with explosive powder and a telephone circuit had been put next to the printer ink inside the printer, which would effectively then be the timing device to set it off, but it looked like a normal printer,” she told the BBC’s Today programme. “They’ve miniaturised this now into what looks like a normal laptop, and even the larger smartphones are an issue.”;
• Aviation Laptop and Electronics Ban for BBC World Service Newsday (England) on 21 March 2017;
• Iraq ISIL, Sunni-Shia Islam, Iran, Base Jumping and Other World News Items for BBC World Service News on 21 June 2014;
• British Participants in ISIL Video for Channel 5 News on 20 June 2014;
• ISIL Advances in Iraq and Threats to the UK for Good Morning Britain on 13 June 2014;
• 'The Plane that Vanished' panel interview by Donal MacIntyre on MAL MH370 plane disappearance and causation for Channel 5 on 14 March 2014;
• MAS Plane Disappearance for ITV Daybreak, Channel 5 News and ITV News on 10 March 2014;
• London Marathon Security & its implications for future sporting events on Channel Pro7, 'TAFF' programme (Germany);
• Boston Marathon Terror for Channel 7 Weekend Sunrise (Australia) on 21 April 2013;
• Boston Marathon Terror for Chanel 5 News on 20 April 2013;
• Boston Marathon Terror for ITV Daybreak, Channel 10 News (Australia) and Channel 5 News on 16 April 2013;
• Boston Marathon Terror and Security for the London Marathon for BBC Radio Scotland on 16 April 2013;
• 3 British Muslims convicted of disrupted 2011 backpack suicide bomb plot for ITV News on 22 February 2013;
• Al Aminas gas site, terrorist mass hostage taking (including British hostages) for Sky News on 16 and 17 January 2013 and ITV News on 17 and 18 January 2013;
• Kenya terror threat from alleged British terrorist (7/7 bomber widow) for ITV News on 9 December 2012;
• Gaza & Israel escalation of attacks for ITV on 15 November 2012;
• Terror bomb plots on New York's financial district & terrorist recruitment for attack on the US President for ITV on 18 October 2012;
• Twitter threat to blow up airport found 'not menancing' following court appeal for BBC News on 27 July 2012;
• Olympics threats and status of Olympic security for N24 Television Germany on 24 July 2012;
• US Cinema Mass Casualty Shooting for Sky News on 20 July 2012;
• British suspected female al qaeda operative in Kenya & olympics threats for ITN Daybreak on 2 July 2012;
• Underpants bomb plot in Yemen foiled for Sky News and Channel 5 News on 8 May 2012;
• Olympic Volleyball at the Horseguards Parade for Channel 10 (Australia) on 16 April 2012;
• Oslo Bombings/Norway Attacks for ZDF German Television on 28 July 2011;
• Oslo Bombings/Norway Attacks for BBC Breakfast on 23 July 2011;
• Evolving Situation: Oslo Bombings/Norway Attacks for Al Jazeera (English) and Sky News on 22 July 2011;
• Bin Laden Files and Manchester Easter Bomb Plot from 2009 for Sky News on 21 May 2011;
• Moscow Airport Suicide Bombing for Sky News on 25 January 2011;
  
• Moscow Airport Suicide Bombing for ITV Daybreak on 24 & 25 January 2011;
• Rome Postal Bombings for Al Jazeera (English) on 23 December 2010;
  
• Rome Postal Bombings for CBC (Canada) on 23 December 2010;
• Yemen Cargo Terror Plot for Al Jazeera (English), TF1, Sky News and ZDF German Television on 1 November 2010;
• Yemen Cargo Terror Plot for ITV Daybreak on 31 October & 1 November 2010;
• Yemen Cargo Terror Plot for ITN on 31 October 2010;
• Yemen Cargo Terror Plot for BBC Breakfast, Sky News and BBC News on 30 October 2010;
• New York's Times Square Bomb Plot for BBC News on 2 & 3 May 2010;
• New York Times Square Bomb Plot for BBC Radio Five Live and BBC Breakfast on 3 May 2010;
• Profiling Terrorists for Aviation Security Following Christmas Day Attempted Bombing for BBC Breakfast on 26 January 2010;
• Aviation Security Following Christmas Day Attempted Bombing for BBC Radio 5 Live on 9 January 2010;
• Passenger Bomb Threat and Security Incident at Heathrow for Sky News on 8 January 2010;
• President Obama's Critique of Intelligence Following Christmas Day Attempted Bombing for Sky News on 30 December 2009;
• Aviation Bomb Security and Profiling Terrorists Following Christmas Day Attempted Bombing for BBC Radio Scotland on 29 December 2009;
  
• Aviation Bomb Security and Detection Security Systems for BBC World Service on 28 December 2009;
• Christmas Day Aviation Bomb for CBC (Canada), TV5 (France) and Al Jazeera (English) on 27 December 2009;
• Christmas Day Aviation Bomb for BBC Radio 4, BBC News, BBC Breakfast and ITN News on 26 December 2009;
• Christmas Day Attack, Bomb Components, Al Qaeda Involvement, Al Qaeda in Arabia Statement for Sky News on 26, 27 & 29 December;
• Liquid Bomb Terror Verdicts and Risks Posed to Aviation for BBC Breakfast on 8 September 2009;
  
• Liquid Bomb Terror Verdicts and Risks Posed to Aviation for BBC News on 7 September 2009;
  
• Majorca Bomb Devices and Terror Risk for GMTV on 31 July 2009;
• BNP Candidate Stockpiled Explosives for Sky News on 31 July 2007;
• Prime Minister's Response to UK Doctors' Bomb Plot for BBC Breakfast on 5 July 2007;
• London and Glasgow Fuel Bombs for Channel 9 (Australia) on 4 July 2007;
• UK Doctors' Bomb Plot and Vehicle Bombs for ABC News (America) on 3 July 2007;
• London and Glasgow Fuel Bombs for BBC News, Channel 9 (Australia), ABC News (USA), BBC Radio Scotland on 2 July 2007;
• London and Glasgow Fuel Bombs for CBC (Canada) on 1 July 2007;
  
• Glasgow Vehicle Bomb for BBC Breakfast on 30 June 2007;
  
• London and Glasgow Fuel Bombs for BBC Radio Five Live and BBC News on 30 June 2007;
• London Vehicle Bombs for BBC News on 29 June 2007;
• National Security and the Fertiliser Plot for BBC Breakfast on 1 May 2007;
• Letter Bomb Terror Campaign for Sky News and BBC News on 7 February 2007;
• Dirty Bombs and their Consequences for the BBC News on 29 December 2006; and
• Extra Dirty Bomb Suits Ordered for Police and Pending Execution of Saddam for BBC News and BBC Breakfast on 29 December 2006.

Lectures and Conferences

Newrisk Limited and its principal adviser, Dr Leivesley, have provided lectures & conferences on explosives incidents, including:

• 'Snapshot of Regional Risks and Sustainability- Incorporating Exercise Cyber-Defence' - Lecture to MIS Chief Information Security Officer Middle East 6th Annual Summit and Roundtable in Dubai (UAE) in February 2014;
• 'CBRNE/Cyber Terrorism: Technical briefing for ‘Exercise London' - Lecture for the Ministry of Defence, Terrorism Causes, Trends and Responses, Knowledge Transfer Programme at the University of Bradford, School of Social and International Studies in April 2013;
• 'Managing Shock Attacks on Cities: Multiple Terrorist, Nuclear or Cyber Threat Horizons' - Keynote and Planning Lecture for CEOs at the Sixth Chief Security Officer Summit in Berlin (Germany) in December 2012;
• 'CBRNE/Cyber Terrorism & London in 2012' - Technical Briefing to Government sponsored students at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford;
• 'Terror Solutions 2012: Practical Issues and Case Studies on Technical Terror Threats, Secure London in 2012, Crisis Planning and Resilience for Critical National Infrastructure during Periods of Increased Significant Risks' - Paper to the MIS 5th Annual Chief Security Officer Summit in London (England) in November-December 2011;
• 'Crisis Management' - Paper to the MIS Corporate Security Manager’s Academy in London (England) in June 2011;
• 'Avoiding Catastrophic Failure through Business Security and Reputation Governance: Top Risks for CSOs 2010-2012' - Keynote paper to the 4th Annual Chief Security Officer Summit on Building Resilience and Holistic Security for Ever Changing Threats and Economic Conditions to Protect People, Reputation and Profits' in Vienna (Austria) in December 2012;
• 'Auditing Risk Management of Top Threats to Reputation and Security for Nations Visiting International Events such as London in 2012 and other Sports Events' - Paper to the 5th Annual Audit, Risk and Governance Africa Conference in Durban (South Africa) in August 2010: involving participants working through new major risk scenarios and exercises;
• 'Financial Cities: Dirty Bombs and Terror Risks to 2012' - Paper to the 3rd Annual Chief Security Officer Summit in Barcelona (Spain) in October 2009;
• 'Business Drivers and CBRN Terror Solutions' - Lecture to the International Security National Resilience in London (England) in December 2007;
• 'CRBNE2 - New Risks, New Solutions, New Plans' - Lecture to the 10th International CBRN Defence Symposium at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham (England) in November 2007;
• 'Terror, Risk and Preparedness in the UK' - Paper to the Defence and Security Forum Meeting in London (England) in November 2006;
• 'Credibility in CBRNE2 Public Information - Cooperation or Apathy?' - Paper to the CBRN Resilience Defence IQ in London (England) in April 2004; and
• 'Securing CBRNE Risk: Global Solutions' - Paper to the ASIS International Members' Meeting in Madrid (Spain) in February 2004.

Workshop Exercises

Newrisk Limited and its principal adviser, Dr Leivesley, have provided workshops on explosives incidents, including:

• 'Exercise CBRNE2 Resilience' - Tabletop exercise at the Defence IQPC Conference in London (England) in April 2004; and
• 'Exercising the Threat: Trains and Tunnels' - Workshop exercise for the  World EOD Foundation 14th International Conference in Surrey (England) in November 1999.

Publications

Newrisk Limited's principal adviser, Dr Leivesley, has written publications on explosives incidents, including:

• 'The Impact on the Business Community: Building Resilience against Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, Radiological, Explosives and Electronic Attacks' - by Dr Sally Leivesley in The Unlikely Terrorists by Rachel Briggs (Editor), November 2002, pp.31-42; and
  
  
• 'Oklahoma - New Issues Raised' by Dr Leivelsey, Safety Audit, October 1995: "The Oklahoma bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building at 9.02am on the 19th of Aril 1995 was an indiscriminate attack on adults and children in a Federal Government building. The bombing created a new terror for the American population - the terror from within. The determination of the rescuers led them to keep on with the search for survivors regardless of the risk. The nation watched the dramatic aftermath and then mourned with the victims' families. A new form of terrorism has confronted the United States and there are lessons for all countries from this tragic event."
  
  

Newrisk Limited's principal adviser, Dr Leivesley, has been cited in numerous publications on explosives incidents, including:

• How will the laptop ban affect airline passengers? by Joe Murphy (political editor) for Financial Times on 23 March 2017: Re Disparity between US and UK laptop travel curbs baffles experts: "...Leivesley says the US may have been less worried about problems with airport."
  
  
• Air passengers flying to UK face further security search at boarding gates over laptop ban by Joe Murphy (political editor) for Standard on 22 March 2017: 'British anti-terror advisor Dr Sally Leivesley said a laptop ban was needed because a small bomb in a cabin could punch a hole in the side of an aircraft causing “massive depressurisation” and “certain death for everyone on board”. Explosives had already been found in the ink capsules of printers carried in luggage, indicating the terrorist thinking. But she warned that the crackdown did not go far enough, saying there was evidence that the supposedly secure “airside” area  of airport terminals was in fact “porous”. This would mean terrorists who passed standard screening could be handed weapons by accomplices before boarding.'
  
  
• 'Is missing Malaysian jet the world’s first CYBER HIJACK? Chilling new theory claims hackers could use a mobile phone to take over the controls' by Wills Robinson, Daily Mail Online, 16 March 2014: "Dr Leivesley, who now prepares businesses and governments for potential terrorist attacks, told the Sunday Express: 'There appears to be an element of planning from someone with a very sophisticated systems engineering understanding. This is a very early version of what I would call a smart plane, a fly-by-wire aircraft controlled by electronic signals. She added that once the plane is air-side, you can insert a set of commands and codes which can begin a new set of processes."
  
  
• ''World's First Cyber Hijack: Was Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight Hacked with Mobile Phone' by James Fielding and Stuart Winter in the Sunday Express, 16 March 2014: "British anti-terror expert Dr Sally Leivesley said last night: “It might well be the world’s first cyber hijack."
  
  
• 'Liberal Democrats Conference Hotel is a Terror Risk' by Anonymous in The Mirror, 20 September 2010: "The hotel used by Nick Clegg and his senior colleagues at the conference is a huge security risk because it is not in a 'secure zone', an expert warned yesterday. A 'ring of steel' has been thrown around the Lib Dem conference centre in Liverpool. Only passholders screened in advance can get in and they have to go through airport-style scanners. But anyone can wander into the Deputy PM's hotel next door. Security analyst, Dr Sally Leivesley, said: 'Stand-off policing can't protect against a suicide bomber.'"
  
  
• 'Wealthy, Quiet, Unassuming: The Christmas Day Bomb Suspect: The Expert View: The Latest in a Line of Near Disasters' by Andrew Johnson, The Independent on Sunday, 27 December 2009: "Dr Sally Leivesley, a leading terror expert who advises governments and businesses, said yesterday there have been several incidents where detonators have failed to ignite devices, with a major terror attack averted through luck or human error...'The devices may not be competent', Dr Leivesley said...'The reports so far suggest that the bomber sat quietly after the incident, but had suffered third degree burns on his leg. That suggests to me that he may have been sedated in order not to appear anxious, but that may have impaired his ability.' The other disturbing development, she added, is the use of the body to conceal explosives."
  
  
• 'Terror in Turkey' by Anonymous, BBC News Online, 21 November 2003: "Breakfast's main story this morning is a stark warning from the Foreign Office: Turkey could face more terrorist attacks after yesterday's suicide bombings which left 27 people dead...We spoke to an expert on international terrorism, Dr Sally Leivesley. She told us that the general public around the world will need to become much more conscious of terrorists."
  
  
• 'Bomb Dogs to Sniff Out Terror' by Peter Morley, The Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia), 20 November 2002.
  
  

Unpublished Papers

Newrisk Limited's principal adviser, Dr Leivesley, has written unpublished papers on explosives incidents, including:

• Cross-Disciplinary Mitigation of CBRNE2 Risk - prepared for the World Federation of Scientists, International Seminar on Planetary Emergencies (31st session) in May 2004.

To request Newrisk Limited's assistance in connection with explosives incidents, or to discuss a tailored package of services, please contact Newrisk Limited directly.