The Guardia Civil's TEDAX bomb squad have reported that they were called to a school in Gran Canaria on November 19th to neutralise two containers of Picric Acid (Trinitrophenol or TNP), an explosive material more potent than dynamite, after it was discovered in the laboratory of the I.E.S. Teror high school.
School officials alerted the police after recognising the substance, prompted by a nationwide advisory sent to educational institutions regarding similar incidents. The Guardia Civil responded quickly, securing and removing the explosive material for safe destruction.
Picric Acid, historically used in munitions and as a strong oxidant in rocket fuels and batteries, was commonly included in chemical kits distributed to schools during the 1990s for laboratory use. In this case, it was no longer in use but had remained in storage for three decades.
Dangers of Picric Acid
The substance poses severe risks due to its properties:
Given these dangers, the removal and destruction of the substance were deemed essential for the safety of students and staff.
Picric Acid was once widely used in education and industry for its reactive properties, including fixing samples for study. However, as awareness of its dangers grew, its use was discontinued, though remnants of old stocks occasionally resurface, as in this case.
