Aimakind ofnewstructure of booster pellet is studied, whichcanbesure to initiate large maincharge explosiveunder the condition of lessexplosive quantity.
The apparent failure of the devices' mainexplosivecharge means that only sheer good fortune, or the incompetence of the bombers, prevented further great loss of life.
Officials said the maincharge was a high-grade military explosive which would have been able to bring down an aircraft, and that it could have been detonated in two ways, in case one failed.