Bristol university chemistry lab evacuated in explosive scare … – The Guardian

Bristol skyline. Photograph: Alamy

A university building was evacuated after a student accidentally made the same explosive that was used in the Paris terror attacks.

The University of Bristol said triacetone triperoxide (TATP) was unintentionally formed in its chemistry laboratory on 3 February.

Police, fire service and bomb disposal experts were called to the building and carried out a controlled explosion of the substance. No one was injured in the incident.

TATP was used in bomb vests worn by militants in the attacks that killed 130 people in November 2015.

A university spokesperson said: Following a full investigation, we can confirm that the chemical triacetone triperoxide (TATP) was unintentionally formed during a routine procedure carried out by a PhD student.

The student was following a published literature method and the risk of TATP as a potential byproduct had been identified during the risk assessment process.

They added: We have robust contingency plans in place to deal with incidents of this nature. As soon as the presence of TATP was identified, the student immediately notified those responsible for laboratory safety in the school.

A series of actions were then taken which resulted in the precautionary evacuation of the chemistry building and surrounding buildings and the controlled disposal of the substance by the emergency services.

The spokesperson said the chemistry departments risk assessment process was being reviewed to determine whether additional checks could be made.

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Bristol university chemistry lab evacuated in explosive scare ... - The Guardian

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