Procurement by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant of components for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices

Terrorists in Iraq and Syria are being supplied through foreign channels with the items needed to manufacture improvised explosive devices. An analysis of the basic chemical components of explosives captured from Islamists in the region of Tikrit (Iraq) and in Kobani (Syria), with subsequent identification of the manufacturers and review of the conditions for selling such components to other countries, indicates that they were either manufactured in Turkey or delivered to that country without the right of re-export.

The following Turkish firms acted as intermediaries: Gultas Kimya, Marikem Kimyevi ve Endustriyel Urunler, Metkim, EKM Gubre and Diversey Kimya. These companies have delivered to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) aluminium powder, ammonium nitrate, pelletized carbamide and hydrogen peroxide produced by various Turkish and foreign companies. In this context, there has been a remarkable seven-fold increase in the volume of deliveries from Turkey to Syria of ammonium nitrate (at a time when agriculture in the Syrian Arab Republic is in decline), which is used by terrorists in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.

One notable feature of the improvised explosive devices assembled in ISIL workshops in the Middle East is the use of the following: PIC16F1827 microcontrollers made by Microchip Technology, a United States company; TIP102 and BDX53C transistors from the Swiss company ST Microelectronics; and mobile telephones from Nokia, model 105 RM-908.

Furthermore, detonation cords manufactured in third countries have been illegally resold through Turkey to ISIL fighters.

These facts demonstrate that the Turkish authorities are deliberately involved in ISIL activity, as they are providing access to components for improvised explosive devices that are being widely used to commit terrorist acts.