Companies in 20 countries provide IS bomb parts

Companies from 20 countries are involved in the supply chain of components that end up in Islamic State explosives, according to the results of a study released on Thursday, suggesting governments and firms need to do more to track the flow of cables, chemicals and other equipment.

The study, mandated by the European Union, found that 51 companies from countries including Turkey, India and the United States produced, sold or received the 700 components used by IS to build improvised explosive devices.

IEDs are now being produced on a "quasi-industrial scale" by the militant group, which uses both industrial components that are regulated and widely available equipment such as fertiliser chemicals and mobile phones, said Conflict Armament Research, which undertook the study.