Image Credit: Brett Carlsen / Stringer / Getty Images 
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) have identified the “area of origin” of a massive fatal blast that took place at a Tennessee bomb-making plant at the beginning of October.
The explosion took place at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility in Bucksnort, about 90 minutes west of Nashville, on 10 October. Sixteen people were killed and the factory was destroyed, along with large quantities of munitions.
Residents over 20 miles away from the facility reported hearing the explosion.
Footage posted on social media showed widespread devastation.
“They have developed multiple scientific hypotheses regarding what caused this tragedy,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet said at a press conference outside of the AES plant on Friday.
“The building contained a mezzanine level with six melting kettles, and the main floor contained at least three production kettles,” said Brice McCracken, special agent in charge of the ATF’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR).
Between 24,000 and 28,000 lb of explosives detonated during the explosion.
Although the investigators said they’ve identified the area where the explosion took place, they did not announce an official cause and refused to speculate about it.
The next phase of the investigation will attempt to determine the cause.
“The next phase of this investigation happens at ATF labs and testing facilities, where the evidence collected from the scene will be analyzed, examined, and tested,” VanVliet said.
All on-site examinations have been concluded and the site has been handed back to AES.
Last week, defense experts warned the explosion could have a severe impact on military supply chains, which are already under severe strain because of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The US has provided four million artillery shells to Ukraine since the war began in 2022.
The government is now assessing “how any production issues might possibly impact current needs,” Tennessee GOP Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a House Armed Services Committee member, told The New York Post.
US military stockpiles of key munitions are severely depleted at present.
The Accurate Systems facility produced explosives that have been crucial to the Ukrainian and Israeli war efforts, including C4 and landmines. The facility also provided explosives to the Canadian military.
The White House has been quick to downplay the impact of the explosion on its ability to provide weapons to Ukraine, which is now being conducted through third countries in NATO.
“The administration’s ability and effort to execute President Trump’s historic deal to facilitate the sale of US-made weapons to NATO allies has not changed,” an official said.
