Police officers in The Woodlands are searching for teenagers connected to a rash of attacks involving "acid bombs" — unpredictable homemade explosives that cause serious chemical burns to anyone caught in their path.
Investigators say that one area resident suffered minor injuries from the teenaged handy work when he pick up an acid bomb that landed on his doorstep. The device exploded in his hands, landing him at a nearby hospital.
At least eight other bombs were found over the weekend. They were discovered at homes and golf courses as well as by cars near FM 2978 and Woodlands Parkway.
These simple explosives take the high school vinegar-and-baking-soda trick to the next level.
Also known as "MacGyver bombs" due to their basic household components, these simple explosives take the high school vinegar-and-baking-soda trick to the next level.
Most acid bombs are plastic bottles filled with aluminum foil (which can act as an acid) and a strong base like a drain-cleaning product. When shaken, basic acid-base chemistry expands the sealed bottle until it bursts. (See this Slate article for more on the science.)
Officials in The Woodlands say that weekend bombs were made from small plastic water bottles filled with foil and a "clear or foaming liquid."
"They throw it against a house or vehicle, and it will just be laying there," Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams tells KHOU Ch. 11. "It will take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the mixture.
The bottle will start expanding, it will explode . . . the real danger occurs."
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office has released images of three teenaged suspects purchasing supplies at a store in The Woodlands. Those with information are asked to contact Montgomery County Crime Stoppers at 800-392-STOP (7867).
Watch KHOU's report:
A group of teenage suspects were caught on surveillance as they purchased bomb supplies.
