Startup launches Acro-Pet for detecting homemade explosives

One side effect of living in the age of terrorism is that pretty much every week, someone thinks that they've got an explosives detector better than the next guy. Well, Acro, a new Israeli firm has developed the Acro-Pet, which is likely to be among the world's smallest detectors of triacetone triperoxide (TATP). It turns out that TATP-based bombs (like the one found in the shoes of would-be bomber Richard Reid), while only 80 percent as powerful as traditional TNT, are much easier to construct (like, at home) and much more difficult to detect. Acro has just released what appears to be a small pen-sized TATP sniffer that is soon-to-be evaluated by the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies in the US and in Europe. Just as this product was shrouded in secrecy for a few years before its announcement to the public, Acro is still keeping mum about its price, for now.

[John Doe @ Dec 19th 2006 10:34AM]

Small nitpick on the now famous off the cuff comments made by the bloggers on Engadget. Age of terrorists? Two words: Learn history. Now maybe "Age of Terrorists in the US", but even that would be a somewhat iffy comment.

Nitpick aside. The price better be pretty dang cheap for a disposable bomb "sniffer". If it is this could become standard kit not just in airports but in larger police forces at places like major sporting events and whatnot.

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2006 1:39PM]

Looks like a suppository...

[josephinefrank50 @ Dec 20th 2006 3:59AM]

Should it be a terror forTerrorist?

[josephinefrank50 @ Dec 20th 2006 5:52AM]

Should it be a terror !!!!!!!!!

[josephinefrank50 @ Dec 20th 2006 5:53AM]

Should it be a terror ???????????????