The discovery of the toxin ricin in a north London apartment at the start of this year, and the extent of subsequent arrests, have brought the threat of terrorists using chemical or biological weapons one step closer. How concerned should we be about this, and what is the evidence that those who perpetrate terror want to use such weapons?
The ricin discovery came after two months of interconnected raids by police in Britain and France targeting an Algerian-dominated network linked to Al Qaeda that is feared to be plotting attacks with bombs or chemical weapons. Whether or not the men charged with possessing ricin turn out to be linked to Al Qaeda, this is the first police discovery of biological or chemical weapons in Britain.
