The European Commission report analysing the regulation controlling the sale, marketing and use of potentially deadly chemicals such as triacetone triperoxide (TATP), used in improvised explosive device, revealed “problems and challenges” throughout Europe.
TATP can be made from household chemicals and has been used in a number of terrorist attacks.
All European Union member states are required to ensure that the general public cannot buy pure forms of controlled substances without showing a license the they have a legitimate professional use for them.
Expert believe the device in Friday’s attack at Parsons Green Tube station used TATP and a “crude” delay timer but failed to fully detonate.
Security Minister Ben Wallace confirmed the device contained TATP – also known as “the mother of Satan”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The [Parsons Green bomb] used the type of explosive similar to that used in Manchester [but] it didn’t go off.”
The report on rules surrounding potentially lethal chemicals found the threat of terrorist using homemade bomb “remains high” and is “evolving”.
It stated: “Work needs to continue to restrict access to dangerous substances that can be used as explosives by terrorist networks.”
It found that regulations around more than 15 chemicals have helped security services to stop attacks, but that controlling internet sales of potentially lethal substances remains a problem.
It also said that there were difficulties overseeing imports and experts, as well as confusion over which professions are legally allowed to buy chemicals.
The report, submitted to the European Parliament, highlighted how chemicals such peroxide and acetone are hard to control because they are household products and staff at smaller shops may be unaware of their duty to report suspicious customers.
It added: “The threat posed by the use of explosives precursor chemicals in manufacturing homemade explosives by terrorists remains high and is continuously evolving.
“The Commission’s priority, beyond full implementation of existing provisions, is to consider what measures could strengthen the system in the future.”
The report concluded that EU regulations has reduces access to dangers explosive chemicals on the market.
It added: “The Commission, Member States and the supply chain of explosives precursors in Europe must jointly step up their efforts to fully implement the existing provisions and identify measures and actions which strengthen the system around homemade explosives in the future.”
Salman Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, built his device using TATP and nails.
The explosive has also been found in a string of terrorist attacks, including the 2015 attack in Paris and the 2016 attack in Brussels.
Police have arrested two men in connection with Parsons Green terror attack.