FBI looks to take 'see something, say something' a step further

WEST BOYLSTON, Mass. — In West Boylston, the FBI gathered local law enforcement agencies to demonstrate the power of improvised explosive devices made with ingredients commonly found in homes.

The City of Boston is all too familiar with these weapons after two pressure cooker bombs detonated at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013.

The FBI pushes the common ‘see something, say something’ message, but they want an early warning.

“Once you see that package or that individual with that specific item at a major event, it’s really too late,” FBI bomb tech Brian Leblanc said. “We need to get a head of that.”

Special Agent Leblanc sat down with Boston 25 News and explained how he is taking ‘see something, say something’ to local businesses -- places where IED ingredients are actually sold.

They’re beauty shops, pool supply stores and hardware stores.

MORE: FBI teaches law enforcement how to respond to public bomb detonations

“We can set up what we call a trip wire. So that if they see something, they'll say something. If they see someone coming in, making a suspicious purchase or a request for items or a chemical, they can report that, said Leblanc.

It is an important message that's being delivered, not just in the Boston area, but across the country.

“I can tell you from our perspective, the whole ‘see something, say something’ has definitely helped,” said Leblanc. “People are more aware of what's going on, they are more apt to call law enforcement.”

It could be some time before authorities know exactly what was used to build those powerful explosives used in Manchester, England Monday night. But eventually, that information will be shared with the FBI -- giving agents a better understanding of this constantly evolving threat.

MORE: An inside look at 'bomb school'

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