Triggering sequence

A triggering sequence, also called an explosive train, is a sequence of events that culminates in the detonation of explosives. This is a method many terrorist organisations use to detonate the main explosive charge, due to the fact they don't usually have a strong enough detonator for the type of explosive they are using.

For example, a match will not cause plastic explosive to explode, but it will light a fuse which will ignite a charge of gunpowder which will in turn ignite a larger type of high explosive.