Bali bombs made of TNT, RDX: Investigators

Bali bombs made of TNT, RDX: Investigators

The Jakarta Post, Bali

The multinational investigative team concluded on Friday that the explosives that rocked Bali on Oct. 12, including the one detonated near the U.S. Consulate were TNT, RDX, and other materials, including chloride (CLO3).

Steven Jackson, a senior investigator of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), said according to the results of the reconstruction, the explosion inside Paddy's came from the ground floor of the two-story building, and soon after the blast, a large flash-fire ignited some small spot fires inside the bar.

They said TNT was a component of the explosive device and it was estimated that the bomb consisted of between 500 grams and one kilogram of TNT.

The weight of the bomb that exploded at Sari Club was assessed to be between 50 kgs and 150 kgs. Almost all victims would have died instantly.

The team, nevertheless, is currently conducting tests to determine the makeup of the bomb used in the Sari Club, arguing that "we need to wait for the results of the tests before we can comment of the specific components of this bomb."

The third bomb in Renon was put on top of the curb on the northern side of the street when it detonated to activate between 500 grams and one kilogram of explosive.

"It has been determined that a mobile phone formed part of the device used in this explosion. Traces of the explosive TNT have been found on the mobile phone parts retrieved from the scene and there are indications that this device was initiated electronically by remote control," said Jackson.

AFP's forensic team concluded that based on physical evidence recovered from the Renon explosion site and Paddy's there might have been similarities in the components and construction of these devices, Jackson said.