CIA: 33 Groups Preparing for WMD Terror

New report on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear weapons

December 3, 2004
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

According to a new CIA report, the threat that terrorists will use chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons "remains high," says Geostrategy-Direct, the global intelligence news service.

"Many of the 33 designated foreign terrorist organizations and other nonstate actors worldwide have expressed interest in using CBRN," the semi-annual report on arms proliferation stated.

"However, most attacks probably will be small-scale, incorporating improvised delivery means and easily produced or obtained chemicals, toxins or radiological substances."

Most groups will continue to use proven attack methods such as bombings and shootings. However, the discovery in January 2003 of a plot by Islamist terrorists to use ricin toxin show active plotting for chemical and biological attacks, according to the report which was made public last week.

"Al-Qaida is interested in radiological dispersal devices [RDDs] or dirty bombs," the report said. "Construction of an RDD is well within its capabilities as radiological materials are relatively easy to acquire from industrial or medical sources."

The report said al-Qaida documents found in Afghanistan show that the group is focusing on biological weapons such as anthrax for "mass casualty attacks."

Regarding nuclear arms, the report said that outside experts, including Pakistani nuclear engineer Bashir al-Din Mahmoud, have helped al-Qaida. Bashir met with Bin Laden and discussed information concerning nuclear weapons, the report said.

"We are alert to the very real possibility that al-Qaida or other terrorist groups might also try to launch conventional attacks against the chemical or nuclear industrial infrastructure of the United States to cause panic and economic disruption," the report said.

A video aired by al Jazeera in September 2002 stated that senior al-Qaida terrorists considered striking nuclear power plants in the United States in selecting targets for what became the September 11 attacks. However, the leaders dropped the idea for fear it would "get out of control," the report said

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