Researching technical detail (without the anti-terrorist squad turning up!)

[Witchend]

I'm writing a story for my dd (13yo) at present. I've got the basic plot for her but she wanted it to be spying/terrorism type plot.
Now I usually have stuck with fantasy stories/ things I know well, so I only need to be consistent with myself, which works well.

I've got the basic plot in my head, but at the end the main character has to foil a bomb plot. This is something I know absolutely nothing about outside Jack Higgins/Andy McNab/Alex Rider. So to make it half-way realistic I need to do some research.
Do I just google search "road side bomb" or whatever? Or is there a nice writers' forum where things like this are answered already.
I'm kind of reluctant to just put it in google as the computer's used by the whole family and ds would be thrilled to find it! (he was delighted to find "instructions on how to make a nuclear submarine" once and came with a list of materials he needed)

Any technical suggestions appreciated. (not too bloodthirsty!)

If you use Chrome, select the option "new incognito window," so the search and visited pages will not show on your history. (it probably won't protect you from government targeting you as a possible terrorist, though) ;)

I doubt you'd get a visit. For a start they'd look at all your internet history including mn and see this thread!

I went to a lecture where the bloke said if you google how to make a formaldehyde bomb you'll be visited by the anti terrorist police. So I googled it, along with rucksacks and pressure cookers and three months in I still haven't had a visit.

I doubt you'd get a visit. For a start they'd look at all your internet history including mn and see this thread although I suppose if I wanted to add verisimilitude to my innocence you could start a thread.

So I googled it, along with rucksacks and pressure cookers and three months in I still haven't had a visit maybe I'll start with that and if I don't get a visit then move on by small steps to multiple simultaneous explosions...

Thanks for the hint on Chrome. I have it on my work computer, which might be worse. I can probably get it on here though.

My problem is always I can visualise the basic plot, but struggle on the small details. I like writing though, and dd2 likes reading.

I just the blurb at the back of one of the Alex Rider books and AH says he's surprised he hasn't had a visit yet.

I honestly wouldn't worry too much. I've googled all sorts of dodgy shit as research and have yet to end up with the police in my doorstep!

While googling "how to make a bomb" is one thing that might get their attention, I'm pretty sure they don't only look at that, or the jails would be awash with writers.

Started looking at a few websites having been encouraged by people here and the worst response was ds looking over my shoulder:
"well if you're looking for my Christmas present I want that one." I assured him firstly I wasn't and secondly the closest he'd get to a sniper rifle is a Nerf gun. However that has meant he's sent me about 60 links to different Nerf guns he fancies. Mostly in the sort of price range that is ridiculous for a piece of plastic that fires polystyrene.
But I've got to about 10 000 words, so feeling quite pleased.

For it to be a crime to download terrorist material, you have to have terrorist intent, not book-writing intent, so you would never be convicted. That said, there have been some heavy handed seizures of computers of researchers working in terrorism studies, and it's harder for them to show no intent. The law is extremely draconian in this regard and all the usual stuff like getting a warrant and holding you without charge for a short time doesn't apply.

That said, if you don't consort with terrorists regularly, you should be fine.

I'm not sure that's very comforting Foureyes

Perhaps I should add at this point that I have never exploded anything more dangerous than a coke bottle with mintoes!

Glad I reassured you:)