CBRNe Forensics vPress:CBRNe Forensics vPress 30/01/2017 09:33 Page 1 Issue 1 CBRN Forensics Forensics in a contaminated environment Supported by GIFT Forensics The World’s Only Manufacturer of BSL-3 Mobile Laboratories MOBILE | MODULAR | LABORATORY COMPONENTS 1-386-265-4300 www.GERMFREE.com CBRNe Forensics vPress:CBRNe Forensics vPress 30/01/2017 09:33 Page 1 Foreword Foreword Hugh Gregg, head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) laboratory The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines forensic as that it was the Ames strain. Complete genome sequencing ‘relating to the use of scientific knowledge or methods in over the next few years enabled the FBI in 2008 to solving crimes’. The well-developed field of forensics conclude that the anthrax used in 2001 all originated from becomes considerably more challenging when additional a single flask of material. hazards, such as chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear are present at the scene of an investigation. Protecting first In 2014, the National Academies Press published Science responders from these hazards is a priority, as is Needs for Microbial Forensics: Developing Initial preservation of the evidence. Awareness, training and tools International Research Priorities. This documented noted: are key elements for safe, successful outcomes. “…that, at the time of the anthrax letters mailings, the tools and technologies that were readily available were not Awareness that additional hazards may be present beyond adequate and the science of microbial forensics was in its what can be seen is the first step. This new journal will aid infancy and limited to a few pioneering laboratories.” The in raising the awareness of the additional risks of working document also highlights the need for this to be an in a CBRN environment. Training in a variety of scenarios international collaboration with both reference collections will increase the capabilities and confidence of the first and accessible databases. responders and forensic investigators in responding safely. Finally, tools, in the form of hardware - technology such as Where does this leave chemical forensics? A limited amount sensors, protective equipment, etc. - and procedures are of research has been carried out and plans are underway for needed to ensure the preservation of evidence while more research. A fourth symposium on chemical forensics protecting the investigators. will be held at the Spring 2017 American Chemical Society National Meeting. While there exists no international The procedures and processes used in handling CBRN research effort on chemical forensics at this time, chemical contaminated evidence need to be carefully thought out production techniques have been used to attempt to and implemented. Decontaminating an item may lead to determine attribution. loss of the forensic evidence necessary for the investigation. Additionally, information from the CBRN The third report of the OPCW - UN Joint Investigative agent may, itself, be a key part of the investigation. This Mechanism (24 August 2016) includes the following text: aspect of CBRN forensics has been, and is being “Multiple sources suggested that the sulphur mustard in researched to different degrees. Using the Chemical question was undistilled and had been generated through Abstracts Service’s SciFinder tool, searching for nuclear the Levinstein process. According to them, the bad smell forensics returns 426 articles, while microbial forensics or (rotten eggs) and colour of the substance (dark green/blue) biological forensics returns a total of 143 and chemical were consistent with sulphur mustard used by ISIL in other forensics returns only 11. Clearly, RN forensics is far ahead incidents … Some sources provided information that of CB forensics. indicated that ISIL had the capacity to produce sulphur mustard through the Levinstein chemical reaction process. In 2015, the International Atomic Energy Agency, issued [The OPCW] confirmed that the sulphur mustard from the revision 1 of the implementation guide Nuclear Forensics in Syrian Arab Republic did not contain impurities such as Support of Investigation. The authors state: “Nuclear polysulphides, meaning that a different process was used by forensic examinations have been successfully applied to a the government. The OPCW also reported that the sulphur number of reported cases involving the illicit trafficking of mustard used by ISIL in northern Iraq on several occasions high enriched uranium and plutonium, as well as events in 2015 and 2016 was produced through the Levinstein involving nuclear and other radioactive material out of process. … There is not sufficient information available to regulatory control.” draw conclusions on the origin of the sulphur mustard used during this incident.” Microbial forensics has come a long way in the past two decades. In the 2001 anthrax attacks in the US (the I look forward to more research on chemical forensics, and Amerithrax case), DNA fingerprinting proved fairly early wish the new journal success! CBRN Forensics 1 CBRNe Forensics vPress:CBRNe Forensics vPress 30/01/2017 09:34 Page 2 Contents Content CBRN Forensics is entirely funded via the European Commission project GIFT: Generic Integrated Forensics Toolbox. Falcon Communications has not profited from this magazine in any way. Web: www.giftforensics.eu Legal Niceties: Reproduction in whole, or part, of any content of CBRN Forensics, without prior permission, is strictly prohibited. Any correspondence should be addressed to The Editor, CBRN Forensics. We acknowledge the assistance and hard work of many individuals, associations and organisations who have contributed to this magazine. The information published in this magazine has been published in good faith and the opinions contained in the article are those of the author and not Falcon Communication Ltd. Photos are credited individually, non attributed articles are from the CBRNe World archive. ©Falcon Communication Ltd 2016. Front cover image ©AWE/MoD 2 CBRN Forensics CBRNe Forensics vCorrections:CBRNe Forensics vCorrections 30/01/2017 16:55 Page 3 Contents nten1 Foreword 27 – 29 CSI UK!ts Karl Harrison, from Cranfield University, on the 4 Welcome to GIFT UK’s response to CBRNE incidents 5 – 7 Meet the Team 30 – 31 Analyse This! Michael Madden, from Analyse IQ, on chemometrics 8 – 9 Future dreaming in forensic analysis Ed van Zalen and Peter de Bruyn, from the Netherlands Forensic Institute on what the future holds 32 – 35 Habsburg Hazmat 10 – 11 Gift wrapped Gunter Povoden talks to Claudine Weeks about Ed van Zalen talks to Claudine Weeks on the Austrian military forensics GIFT legacy 36 – 37 Team effort 12 – 13 A good sniff Lt. Col Martel and Katleen de Meulenaere on Eric Moore, from Tyndall University, on some of the Belgian military forensics GIFT chemical detectors 38 – 41 CSI2 14 – 17 Common approach path Dr Randall Murch on the blueprint for a CBRN Dr Jason Bannan, from the FBI Laboratory, on the forensics capability genesis of CBRN forensics 18 Out of the darkness 42 – 43 Mind the Gap Johan Sand, from STUK, on stand off alpha detection The gaps in European CBRN forensics 19 – 20 The Searchers 44 – 46 Dangerous Clues Daan Noort, from TNO, on their work to improve Steve Johnson on forensics, SIBCRA and WIT forensic chemical detection 21 – 24 Theatre night 47 Light fantastic Adrien Sivignon, from CONSTOX, on pre-Bataclan Silvia Lopez on the GIFT differential mobility developments in French forensics analyser 25 – 26 Risky Business 48 Send for the fun police! Peter Den Outer, RIVM,, and Govert Verstappen, NFI, Iris Huis in 't Veld at Eticas Research & Consulting on the need for a CBRN forensics risk assessment tool on ethics in CBRN forensics Published by Falcon Communications Limited Contact Details: Editor Business Marcoms Manager For Sales: CBRNe World Gwyn Winfield Development Claudine Weeks +1 443 605 2583 Suite 26, Basepoint, Manager [email protected] 1 Winnall Valley Road, Business James Ross Sub Editor +44 (0)1962 832 534 Winchester, Hampshire Development Jenny Walton SO23 0LD, UK Director Business [email protected] David Levitt Development Correspondents Executives Jeffrey Bigongiari For Editorial: Web: www.cbrneworld.com Art Director Anna Dziaczkowska Brian O’Shea +44 (0)1962 832 532 Twitter: @cbrneworld Tony Denton [email protected] LinkedIn: cbrneworld CBRN Forensics 3 CBRNe Forensics vCorrections:CBRNe Forensics vCorrections 30/01/2017 16:59 Page 4 Welcome to GIFT Welcome to GIFT The successful interrogation of evidence, either at a crime scene WP1: The management work package. Keeping the entire contaminated with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear consortium on track and liaising with the commission, among other (CBRN) agents, or of the agents themselves back at the lab, is an things. absolutely vital part of CBRN defence. WP2: Composed of threat assessments, gap analysis and toolbox design. It aims to define the forensics community’s needs, to allow At present forensic investigation is hampered by a lack of protocols identification of what must happen to allow responders to perform and training in carrying out forensic analysis on CBRN their tasks safely, quickly and properly. contaminated materials. WP3: Two central themes, one being the development of protocols for use in the crime scene; the other is the development of The generic integrated forensic toolbox for CBRN incidents, or GIFT investigative methods for when the evidence is contaminated with CBRN, consortium,