Bomb–making Materials Awareness Program

December 13, 2012

Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism

The Bomb-making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP) is a national program sponsored by The National Protection and Programs Directorate’s Office of Infrastructure Protection (NPPD/IP). A collaborative effort between the DHS Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), BMAP is designed to increase public and private sector awareness of homemade explosives (HME), a common improvised explosive device (IED) tactic used by terrorists.

Program Description

Developed in cooperation with the FBI, BMAP helps local law enforcement agencies engage a range of private sector establishments within their jurisdictions that manufacture, distribute, or sell products that contain HME precursor chemicals. BMAP outreach materials, provided by law enforcement to local businesses, help employees more easily identify relevant HME precursor chemicals and other critical IED components of concern, such as electronics, and recognize suspicious purchasing behavior that could indicate bomb-making activity. The program simultaneously encourages stronger relationships between businesses and local law enforcement, and reinforces the foundation of effective community safety and security. The importance of educating employees at the point-of-sale cannot be overstated since the first line of defense is to provide early detection of the sale of HME precursor chemicals to suspect individuals.