Up to 20 countries supply bombs to IS

(Baonghean.vn) - That is the information published from a study by the European Union (EU) on February 25. Companies from 20 countries are participating in the supply chain of materials that help the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group make bombs - an alarming fact that requires governments and businesses to take stronger action to monitor the "flow" of chemicals, cables and other materials that can be used to make bombs.

The flag of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) is hung on a street in southern Lebanon on January 19. Photo: Reuters

EU research shows that up to 51 companies from many countries including Türkiye, Brazil and the US have produced, sold or received more than 700 materials and components used by IS to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Of these, the most is Türkiye with 13 companies, followed by India with 7 companies involved. In addition, companies in Brazil, Romania, Russia, the Netherlands, China, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic are also involved in supplying equipment to manufacture IEDs.

IEDs are now being produced on a “semi-industrial” scale by insurgent groups, using both tightly controlled industrial equipment and common materials such as fertilizer chemicals and mobile phones.

Researchers say IS was able to acquire some of the devices within a month of their legal arrival, highlighting lax oversight of the supply chain for materials that could be used to make bombs.

Phuong Thao

(According to Reuters)