Home-Made Explosives Courses-Basic in Bechyně, the Czech Republic

Homemade explosives are a growing concern in recent years as we are experiencing more attacks that happen in every part of the world. Due to the availability of the precursors at the free market and easy access to information related to homemade explosives “recipes”, the homemade explosives are the first choice of many perpetrators.

Therefore, all security enablers who are the potential first responders and may come into contact with any type of homemade explosives, should be one step ahead of the perpetrators and need to be fully aware of the equipment, precursors and of course final homemade explosives products, to be able to identify and confirm any illicit activity. 

Based on abovementioned requirement, the NATO EOD COE organized two iterations of the Homemade Explosives Course – basic. Each iteration was performed with the assistance of Subject Matter Experts from Ammunition Testing Centre in Novaky and Institute of Energetic Materials (University of Pardubice, Czech Republic). 

The course was delivered by the EOD COE Mobile Training Team within the premises of the 15th Engineer Regiment in Bechyně. The duration of each course iteration was three days and both courses were delivered from 28th  of May till 5th of June.

In total, 32 participants from the Czech Republic were trained. The most of participants were members of the Czech EOD units, however several students came from the Military Police or Military Engineering units. 

The students were taught to recognize a homemade explosives laboratory, to recognize different groups of homemade explosives, to understand the particular HMEs sensitivity and performance and of course to take appropriate action when got involved.  

All trainees successfully graduated and expressed their satisfaction with the content and quality of the Homemade Explosives Course – basic.