AZF (factory)

AZF (French initialism for AZote Fertilisant, i.e. nitrogen fertilizer) was the name of a chemical factory in Toulouse, France, which exploded on 21 September 2001.

The blast was equivalent to 20-40 tons of TNT, producing an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4, and was heard 80 km (50 miles) away.

On 21 September 2001, an explosion occurred in the AZF fertiliser factory in Toulouse, France, belonging to the Grande Paroisse branch of the Total group.

Due to the acoustics of the hills and the loud sound, the explosion was reported as occurring in multiple places.

French anti-terrorist authorities were prohibited by the Toulouse prosecutor from searching Jandoubi's house for five days after the incident.