Meet the bomb-sniffing dogs training for modern terror threats
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Bomb-sniffing dogs padded through the Caesars Superdome recently, searching for the scent of homemade explosives as part of an ATF training exercise in New Orleans.
Why it matters: Authorities say the man accused in last year's Bourbon Street terror attack placed coolers filled with homemade explosives in the French Quarter, but they failed to detonate.
The big picture: The Bourbon Street attack was one of the reasons the ATF brought the specialized training to the Dome earlier this spring, says James "JJ" James, lead instructor for the ATF's national recognition testing program.
- The dogs and their handlers sweep stadiums, festivals, backpacks and airports before major events across the Gulf South.
- The homemade explosives training is important because local K-9 teams don't normally have access to the volatile compounds, James says.
- Improvised explosives are easier to make now because instructions and materials are readily available online, he adds.
Case in point: A Missouri man was charged last week with posting instructional videos that authorities say Shamsud-Din Jabbar used to make the bombs he planted in New Orleans.
- Authorities are also investigating a separate explosion at a Missouri home, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release. The resident there told authorities he made explosive devices after watching the online tutorials.
How it worked: The dogs at the Dome learned the odors of 10 basic compounds, like black powder, and then trained on homemade explosives to recognize those smells, officials say.
- The ATF arranged a ring of metal canisters, with only some containing explosive scents. The dogs worked their way around the circle and signaled when they detected the odors.
- The dogs were rewarded with a treat or toy.
Zoom in: It's like a game to them, the handlers told Axios.
- One dog flipped from laser-focused working dog to playful pup the second her ball appeared.
- She snapped back just as quickly when it was time to go back to work.
My thought bubble: My family says I have a sensitive nose, but it didn't come close to the K-9s'.
- I wafted my hand over the canisters and didn't smell a thing.
