Easy Sales of Peroxide Questioned in Beauty Parlor Bomb Plot

With the case of alleged bomb maker Najibullah Zazi fresh on the public's mind, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has called for a nationwide "awareness" program of sales of peroxide, a chemical widely used in over-the-counter hair dye formulas and swimming pool cleaning supplies but also sought after by terrorists to make homemade bombs.

According to court documents, accused al Qaeda bomb maker Najibullah Zazi "purchased unusually large quantities of hydrogen peroxide and acetone from beauty supply stores in the Denver metropolitan area."

(ABC News Photo Illustration)

A recipe to make a homemade liquid bomb using concentrated peroxide, known as TATP, was found in Zazi's computer, law enforcement officials say. It was said to be the same recipe used by terrorists in the London transit bombings that killed 56 and wounded more than 700 commuters on July 7, 2005.

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Surveillance videos showed Zazi purchased dozens of bottles of low strength hydrogen peroxide used to dye hair at various Denver area beauty supply stores and then prosecutors say he went to a nearby hotel where he experimented with cooking the chemicals on a stovetop.

"With these potentially dangerous chemicals so readily available to the public, we must do what needs to be done to ensure public safety," Schumer said. "Not only has there been a string of terrorist plots involving TATP, but the alleged New York City bombing plot of Najibullah Zazi has reminded us all of the serious nature of this threat. We must do everything we can to prevent a possible tragedy in the future."

Earlier this month, a southern California man blew off several fingers while dealing with what authorities say was homemade TATP in the basement of his home. Benjamin Kuzelka, 23 was in the garage handling an unstable liquid when it exploded, officials said at the time.