Bomb-making materials awareness program launches in Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- The City of Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management launched a new program to help spread awareness on bomb-making materials.

It's called the Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program.

Funding for the program is provided by the State Homeland Security Grant Program from Gov. Greg Abbott's Public Safety Office.

“BMAP is one way our office is increasing capacity beyond emergency management response,” said Ken Snipes, HSEM Director. “Prevention and risk management are key tenets of our work. This program will allow us to expand outreach to the business community to help prevent domestic terrorism.”

The program is a counter-terrorism risk management program.

It focuses on restricting "malicious actors" from:

• explosive precursor chemicals
• explosive powders
• exploding target materials
• associated components
• delivery methods

HSEM staff will reach out to businesses in specific industries that might sell those types of supplies.

Businesses include:

• Hardware
• Pool
• Pharmacy
• Fireworks
• Beauty supply companies

The plan is to educate those businesses about the types of products they sell that can be used for homemade explosives and how to recognize and report suspicious activity.

"Retail managers and employees play an important role in keeping the community safe," a news release said.

Businesses are asked to practice the RACK system:

• Recognize products within your inventory that can be used to make bombs
• Ask for customer I.D. and note suspicious purchases
• Check your inventory and report missing or stolen products
• Know your customers and report suspicious purchases or behaviors

In a news release, the HSEM wanted to remind people that, "factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity are not suspicious."

KXAN's Sarah Al-Shaikh will have more on this story. You can watch tonight on KXAN News at 10.