Terror blast test caught on camera

          Yesterday, Superior Court Justice Bruno Durno released three videos- the first one of a terror blast test conducted by the RCMP in September 2008. The goal of this blast test was to test the effects of a bomb made with one tonne of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel. The video shows the affect of the explosion on a 2,230-kilogram steel shipping container. The container was flipped by the force and completely damaged. Another video was released of Zakaria Amara, a homegrown terrorist, who was performing a trigger test on a remote detonation device, which he built as a part of a bomb plot targeting downtown Toronto. He was charged for two terrorism offences, and pleaded guilty to both. The last video shows Saad Gaya and Saad Khalid unloading a delivery truck filled with three tons of ammonium nitrate, moments before they were arrested on June 2, 2006 when police busted the Toronto 18 group. The exhibits provide a glimpse into the inner plans of the group, and they also show the intelligence of Zakaria Amara and the potential explosion that could have occurred if the group wasn't dismantled. The targeted area of the failed attack was the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Front St. offices of Canada's spy agency, and a military base off Highway 401.

          I think that releasing these videos now is a beneficial idea because it will make the public aware of the potential disaster that could occur if the ammonium nitrate is put in the wrong hands. The people need to realize how deadly ammonium nitrate can be, and they need to make sure that they report anything suspicious to the police. These videos force me to realize how the police are doing their best to protect the people, which makes me feel safer in public places in the future. I think that there is also a downside to releasing these videos- future terrorists might see these videos which may spark ideas and cause them to start gathering ammonium nitrate to make a bomb. As a society, we need to do our best in making sure that terrorist attacks decrease, and we also need to do our best to remain safe in the case of one of these deadly explosions.