It is no secret that people in London have links with terrorists abroad. What is causing concern now is that those people are regarding the capital as a target and not just a hiding place. There was an alert just before Christmas because there was evidence of an attack. Nothing happened but that doesn't mean we are safe. Scientists said last night that the chemical was easy to manufacture and a tiny amount released in an underground station could kill thousands of people.
Terrorist groups are increasingly keen to experiment with chemical weapons.
Sarin, which is 26 times more deadlier than cyanide, is particularly sought after because being odourless it is almost impossible to detect. Twelve people were killed and more than 5,000 injured. In 1999, as a direct result of the Tokyo attack, police in London established a unit to advise key installations on how best to safeguard themselves from a chemical attack. The threat of a bioterrorist attack on the United States is not being adequately addressed though progress on preparations is being made, a panel of scientists and physicians told the annual meeting of American Association for the Advancement of Science Saturday. Md. A recent Internet search, said Eitzen, turned up 54 firms that will ship and sell anthrax microbes and 18 that will do the same for plague-causing bacteria.