Flour bomb
Encyclopedia
There are two types of flour bomb:
An example from May 2004 was the use of purple-dyed flour in condoms thrown at Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Tony Blair
in the chamber of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom by protesters campaigning for improved access rights to their children. The event highlighted the poor security methods employed in and around the Houses of Parliament
at the time.
Flour bombs saw notable use during the controversial 1981 Springbok Tour
at Eden Park
in Auckland, New Zealand. In an attempt to disrupt the match, flour bombs, along with flares, leaflets and a parachute-support banner reading "Biko" were dropped into Eden Park
from a light plane flying overhead. Ironically, a New Zealand All Blacks player was felled by one of the flour bombs.
The effect of flour bombs is made worse by the inclusion of eggs, or containers of other liquid, making the removal of the resultant mixture difficult.
- The relatively innocuous use of flour in a fragile container, thrown at a person or object to produce an inconvenient stain.
- The dangerous dust explosionDust explosionA dust explosion is the fast combustion of dust particles suspended in the air in an enclosed location. Coal dust explosions are a frequent hazard in underground coal mines, but dust explosions can occur where any powdered combustible material is present in an enclosed atmosphere.- Conditions for...
that can occur when an air suspension of the fine organic, often starchy, substance is ignited.
Prank or protest
Flour in a fragile container thrown at an object or person of derision is a classic protest method, along with the throwing of eggs and overripe tomatoes.An example from May 2004 was the use of purple-dyed flour in condoms thrown at Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
in the chamber of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom by protesters campaigning for improved access rights to their children. The event highlighted the poor security methods employed in and around the Houses of Parliament
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
at the time.
Flour bombs saw notable use during the controversial 1981 Springbok Tour
1981 Springbok Tour
The 1981 South African rugby union tour of New Zealand was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South Africa national rugby union team, known as "the Springboks"...
at Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
in Auckland, New Zealand. In an attempt to disrupt the match, flour bombs, along with flares, leaflets and a parachute-support banner reading "Biko" were dropped into Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
from a light plane flying overhead. Ironically, a New Zealand All Blacks player was felled by one of the flour bombs.
The effect of flour bombs is made worse by the inclusion of eggs, or containers of other liquid, making the removal of the resultant mixture difficult.