Fact Check: Building homemade improvised explosive devices is a common activity among teenagers.

Fact Check: "Building homemade improvised explosive devices is a common activity among teenagers."

What We Know

The claim that building homemade improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is a common activity among teenagers is supported by some evidence but lacks comprehensive data to confirm its prevalence. According to a report by the CDC, between 2003 and 2011, there were 134 reported incidents involving homemade chemical bombs (HCBs) across 15 states, with 66% of the injured individuals being youths. This suggests that while such incidents do occur, they are not overwhelmingly common, as they represent only 0.2% of all hazardous substance events reported during that period.

Furthermore, the report indicates that the majority of these incidents were linked to readily available chemicals and that instructions for making HCBs are accessible online. This accessibility may contribute to the occurrence of such events among youths, particularly during summer months when incidents peaked (CDC).

Analysis

While the CDC report indicates that a significant portion of HCB incidents involved youths, it does not provide a clear picture of how widespread the activity of building these devices is among teenagers. The report notes that 35 out of 53 injured individuals were youths, but this does not necessarily mean that a large number of teenagers are actively engaging in this activity. The reported incidents may be influenced by factors such as media coverage, peer influence, and the availability of materials (CDC).

Moreover, the United States Bomb Data Center and other sources discuss the broader context of IEDs, noting their use by various groups including criminals and terrorists, but they do not specifically address the prevalence of such activities among teenagers. The data suggests that while there are incidents involving youths, the overall number of reported events is relatively low compared to the total number of hazardous substance incidents.

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is generally high, as they come from reputable organizations such as the CDC and the ATSDR. However, the interpretation of the data requires caution, as the term "common" can be subjective and may not accurately reflect the actual frequency of such activities among teenagers.

Conclusion

The claim that building homemade improvised explosive devices is a common activity among teenagers is Partially True. While there is evidence that youths are involved in incidents related to homemade explosive devices, the overall frequency of such activities is not well-documented and appears to be relatively low in comparison to the total number of hazardous substance incidents. Therefore, while the potential for such activities exists, it cannot be definitively stated that they are common.

Fact Check: Building homemade improvised explosive devices is a common activity among teenagers.