Plastic explosives stolen from French military site

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**Ninjacommando**

http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/07/07/200-detonators-explosives-stolen-from-french-military-site

By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French authorities are investigating the theft of roughly 200 detonators plus grenades and plastic explosives from a military site in southeastern France, officials said Tuesday.

The thefts at the Miramas site, which is operated by a combination of military services west of Marseille, appeared to have occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday. The break-in comes as France has strengthened its security measures after two deadly attacks by extremists this year.

Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said an investigation has started on charges of "theft with break-in carried out by a criminal group" and "fraudulent entry into a military compound."

An official with the gendarmerie police force, which generally runs law enforcement in more rural areas of France, said the thief or thieves appeared to have cut through a fence to enter the high-security site. The official was not authorized to speak publicly because the operation is ongoing.

Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he has ordered an investigation into how the break-in was organized and who might be responsible. He also instructed a new office in charge of protecting such sites to review the security for all French military weapons stocks and propose "corrective measures" within 15 days.

Mayor Frederic Vigouroux of Miramas told The Associated Press it was the first theft at the site. The outer fences were broken into and nine storehouses were affected, he said.

"It wasn't cotton candy that was stolen," he said. "These are dangerous munitions."

France has been on its highest level of alert for terrorism following deadly attacks in January and June.

The 200-hectare (500-acre) base sits on the outskirts of the town of 30,000 and stocks munitions like those used in French military operations in Mali and Afghanistan.

Wonder what "they" are going to attack with that stuff.

**Crazy_Carnifex**

Hopefully it's just regular ol' organized criminals wanting to blow each other up.

But seriously, France, it's stuff like this that stops people from taking you seriously

**Jihadin**

SHARPE maybe. VBIED more likely as a attack if its a terror organization

25 frags to a box (US packing)
No idea how many pounds of plastic they made off yet?

**motyak**

If their bases are anything like ours, getting on is a piece of piss. Getting into the quey's haven would be harder, but it'd be the only remotely difficult bit of it. The entry to the base is yeah, easy.

**Jihadin**

All they need is to make it to the Entry Control Point and set it off.
Does not have to be military in nature.
A downtown shopping area at peak hours will do.
Be a huge propaganda victory all on its self right there.

Edited

Posted something I should not have concerning explosives handle by the US Military

**motyak**

I more meant it's easy to get onto the base in terms of doing the thieving. I wasn't commenting on a target.

**Jihadin**

I mention how one can keep accountability of product while in transit without doing what we call "paper jamming". Physically signing for it at each stage enroute to recipient
Not target specific.

**Agent_Tremolo**

Hardly news. Back in the day, french military stockpiles were ETA's primary source of weapons, ammo and explosives. At some point in the 80s they even got their hands on mortars and grenade launchers.

When loose vigilance and lousy handling procedures were not enough, a bribe here and there or some "comrade" willing to lend a hand to some foreign group of "freedom fighters" helped pave the way in.

**Co'tor Shas**

Welp, that's not good. Hopefully they catch them before people get hurt.

**sebster**

A former footballer recently managed to get through most of the defences of a military base here a little while ago. He was high as a kite and probably in the midst of a mental breakdown, if the rumours are to be believed. Kind of scary how lax security at these places is, sometimes.

**jhe90**

Not very far to the UK as well :-(

They where bad enough with home made get alone military grade stuff that's very powerful.

A single frag grenade in a busy spot could kill and wound dozens of people yet alone C4 which is very compact, very stable and powerful.

**Steve steveson**

jhe90 wrote:
Not very far to the UK as well :-(

Fear not! The French have solved this the French way! The port workers are all on strike making if far more difficult to cross the channel!

jhe90 wrote:

They where bad enough with home made get alone military grade stuff that's very powerful.

A single frag grenade in a busy spot could kill and wound dozens of people yet alone C4 which is very compact, very stable and powerful.

Not really. My chemistry is a little out of date, but potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate based bombs (which is what is often used for "home made" bombs in the west) are actually quite close to C4 in terms of power for weight. The issue comes with the fact that they are difficult to make and not as stable. C4 is also often mixed with other agents, such as plasticizers, which reduces the power (but increases the utility). The advantage of C4 is that it is very stable, safe and can be shaped however you want it. The military are generally not interested in making as big a blast as possible with C4, they have other tools for that.

What I don't understand is, why steal it from a military base. There are plenty of other people with explosives and less guns to shoot you with if you get caught.

**Frazzled**

I have an alibi!

**jhe90**

Steve steveson wrote:
jhe90 wrote:
Not very far to the UK as well :-(

Fear not! The French have solved this the French way! The port workers are all on strike making if far more difficult to cross the channel!

jhe90 wrote:

They where bad enough with home made get alone military grade stuff that's very powerful.

A single frag grenade in a busy spot could kill and wound dozens of people yet alone C4 which is very compact, very stable and powerful.

Not really. My chemistry is a little out of date, but potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate based bombs (which is what is often used for "home made" bombs in the west) are actually quite close to C4 in terms of power for weight. The issue comes with the fact that they are difficult to make and not as stable. C4 is also often mixed with other agents, such as plasticizers, which reduces the power (but increases the utility). The advantage of C4 is that it is very stable, safe and can be shaped however you want it. The military are generally not interested in making as big a blast as possible with C4, they have other tools for that.

What I don't understand is, why steal it from a military base. There are plenty of other people with explosives and less guns to shoot you with if you get caught.

Explosives are very tightly regulated though, and not many legitimate uses. Maybe qaurry, demolitions, and a few others. Not every day stuff you find in a lockup. Military has lots of it, and despite the risk the thieves reward is high. How much will the underworld pay for frag grenades etc? Probably a good sum of cash.

Yeah but crazy world and rather unsettling to have such hardware out in such dangerous hands.

**Tannhauser42**

Crazy_Carnifex wrote:

But seriously, France, it's stuff like this that stops people from taking you seriously

As opposed to, say, accidentally flying around the US with nuclear weapons?

Anyway, I think another concern beyond who stole the stuff is who they might sell it to.

**Jihadin**

Tannhauser42 wrote:
Crazy_Carnifex wrote:

But seriously, France, it's stuff like this that stops people from taking you seriously

As opposed to, say, accidentally flying around the US with nuclear weapons?

Anyway, I think another concern beyond who stole the stuff is who they might sell it to.

That's one incident that came to light.
Ever wonder how spent fuel rods (Nuclear Power plants) get to underground disposal sites?
Artillery tactical nuke rounds?
To name a few hehe

Edit

Well, everyone knows how Anthrax stored and studied by DoD get transported across the US of A

Edit
Think it was anthrax

**Experiment 626**

Crazy_Carnifex wrote:

But seriously, France, it's stuff like this that stops people from taking you seriously

To be fair, at least they're not the ones still actively flying Sea Kings as S&R craft...

Nor were they the ones who sent their armed forces into a desert combat zone in their forest greens.