WILLEMSTAD - The Explosives Ordnance Disposal Department of Defense destroyed a large shipment of picric acid on Curaçao recently. The culling was done at the request of the Curaçao authorities.

In the past, several laboratories on the island used picric acid. This dangerous substance can cause an explosion if handled carelessly. The acid was in bad condition in a storage of the Analytical Diagnostic Center in Willemstad. There was also a residue of the equally dangerous substance hydroxylamine.

Measurements showed that the destruction of the substances had to take place under so-called CBRN conditions (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear). This means that officers must wear protective clothing to prevent health damage.

Spotless

Both substances were transported to Wacawa training ground under police escort. There, the bomb squad detonated the matter in a controlled manner. Sergeant of 1st class Vincent: “Our team trains a lot on this, because it is a condition that these kinds of explosions take place without danger.”