Army Bomb Disposal Team Called To Thurles School

The unstable chemical, Picric Acid, has been made safe by an Army Bomb Disposal Team in Thurles, Co Tipperary.

The chemical was uncovered in a laboratory at the Christen Brothers School (CBS), north of the town centre.

The school was immediately and safely evacuated and a nearby road was closed off to traffic as a precaution, at around 7.00pm, when the substance was discovered.

Following a controlled explosion being carried out on the offending substance, the scene was declared safe at around 8.30pm.

Picric Acid, possibly more commonly known as “2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP),” in the chemical trade, is a re-agent routinely used in laboratories around the country and can become unstable over a long period of time.

Picric Acid has, in the past, been stocked in pharmacies as an antiseptic and as a treatment for burns and was most notably used for the treatment of burns suffered by victims of the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.

Picric acid emits a high-pitched whine during combustion in air and this has led to its widespread use in modern fireworks.

In June of last year an Army Bomb Disposal Team was called to a chemist shop here in Thurles, also due to unstable Picric Acid.