Video explaining the proliferation of household products in explosives wins top award

The video highlights the importance of educating law enforcement, fire and ambulance services and public health officials to identify the early indicators of attacks in preparation and how best to report such cases.  

Coordinated by Interpol’s ‘Project Litmus’, the short film – which won a gold prize at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards – is part of a larger campaign to raise awareness and increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies who suspect anyone of preparing a bomb so they can be stopped before an attack takes place.  

High-profile explosive incidents using ingredients found in common household products have taken place across the world, including the UK, the US, Spain and Russia.  

Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said: “We know that terrorist groups are working hard to both acquire CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive) materials and develop the expertise to use them. 

“The Project Litmus awareness initiative highlights the need for the various agencies involved to work more closely together. Information exchange is key to strengthening the global security architecture required to effectively counter the terrorism threat.” 

Through training activities, Project Litmus will provide an understanding of the evidentiary requirements for frontline workers and assist in the exchange of medical, forensic and scientific evidence among relevant agencies.  

Interpol says a lack of communication between agencies and the failure to exchange crucial information could lead to a major terror attack taking place simply through not knowing to whom to report such information.  

Delays in identifying a terrorist, and a loss of crucial evidence, can significantly decrease a country’s ability to disrupt or prevent attacks.