FBI Warns of Simple Chem Attack

[bfez1]

March 27 — The FBI is warning law enforcement agencies across the country about the threat of chemical attack from individuals trying to make improvised chemical weapons.

In its weekly intelligence bulletin, obtained by ABCNEWS, the FBI says it has "recently obtained information detailing a chemical weapon made with easily available items."

"The device could produce toxic gas such as hydrogen cyanide or chlorine gas," it says. "Little or no training is required to deploy such a device due to its simplicity."

The weekly bulletin, which is developed from counterterrorism investigations and analysis, says these weapons may "include the use of a pierced canister, such as a paint can. The larger canister houses another container that may contain a liquid, which would be surrounded by a solid material. When combined, this creates the toxic gas that would emerge through the holes."

While the intelligence bulletin does not contain specific threat information, it notes that such a device "would be effective in enclosed areas or near ventilation systems." However, it adds that "use of a ventilation system for dispersal … would dilute the gas to the extent that large numbers of casualties are unlikely to occur. … It is difficult to judge the effectiveness of an attack using multiple devices in an open space."

The warning follows previous alerts that al Qaeda may be plotting attacks against "soft targets" such as hotels and enclosed spaces such as subways.

The bulletin says that law enforcement agencies should report suspicious activity related to the use of improvised chemical devices to the nearest Joint Terrorism Task Force.

"This action will engage FBI resources such as the local Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator, the Hazardous Materials Response Unit and the WMD Operations Unit," it says.

The document also makes mention of recent "Be on the lookout" alerts for Aafia Siddiqui, her husband, Dr. Mohammed Khan, and Adnan G. El Shukrijumah.

The FBI believes El Shukrijumah may be involved with al Qaeda, and sources have described him as a field commander on the level of Mohamed Atta, the suspected leader of the Sept. 11 hijackers.

The bulletin does not link El Shukrijumah to a possible chemical plot, but ABCNEWS has learned his intended major at a Florida community college in the mid-1990s was chemistry. He apparently only took one chemistry course.

Siddiqui and Khan lived for several years in the Boston area, There is no information implicating them in terrorist activity, but there have been recent reports of a link between Siddiqui and El Shukrijumah. While Siddiqui's current whereabouts are unknown, the FBI believes she is currently in Pakistan.

[wx247]

Oh my! :o Thanks for the info. and keep us updated!

[chadtm80]

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