The Watch Floor with Sarah Adams They Are Using This to Attack Americans
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Mar 18, 2026 A breakdown of TATP peroxide explosives and why they are so unstable. A look at how and where people learn to make these devices and common construction methods. A survey of notable peroxide-based attacks and why many of these bombs fail. Practical warning signs, including distinctive chemical smells, that people should watch for.
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Why TATP Is Both Powerful And Extremely Dangerous
- TATP is triacetone triperoxide, a homemade explosive prized for power but notorious for extreme sensitivity.
- Sarah Adams explains it's called the "mother of Satan" by bomb makers and is deadly unpredictable compared with stable military explosives like C4.
Bomb Makers Balance Power Against Personal Risk
- Choosing homemade explosives is a tradeoff: power and untraceability versus high risk of accidental detonation.
- Sarah Adams frames this as terrorists conducting a risk analysis between avoiding supply chains and accepting unstable materials like TATP.
Accessibility Makes TATP Attractive To Lone Actors
- Terrorists prefer TATP because ingredients are widely available and it removes the need for smuggling or formal supply chains.
- Sarah Adams notes this fits the modern model of small self-radicalized attackers who lack group connections or training.