Chemical 'bomb plot' in UK foiled
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Chemical 'bomb plot' in UK foiled
Chemical 'bomb plot' in UK foiled
Osmium tetroxide is not known as a chemical weapon agent
Intelligence agents in the UK and US have foiled an alleged chemical bomb plot in Britain, the BBC has learnt.
The plot was believed to involve detonating a combination of explosive and a chemical called osmium tetroxide.
Experts say in gas form it could be lethal in a confined space.
The plotters were thought to be sympathetic to the aims of al-Qaeda and the intended target was believed to be British civilians, probably in London.
The chemical has a legitimate scientific use for research but is highly destructive to peoples' eyes, lungs and skin.
Attack 'inevitable'
The plot was foiled after US and British intelligence intercepted communications between the plotters and it is not thought that they had managed to obtain any of the chemical, osmium tetroxide.
The target was thought to be areas in which there would be concentrations of people, possibly within a confined space.
The UK has been on a high state of alert since bombings in Madrid on 11 March claimed 191 lives.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir John Stevens said a terror attack on London was inevitable but Home Secretary David Blunkett has tried to play this down.
OSMIUM TETROXIDE
Laboratory chemical which requires precautions when handled
Used in scientific experiments, not known as a chemical weapon agent
Toxic and irritant, even in small amounts
Direct contact causes skin and eye damage
What is osmium tetroxide?
Alastair Hay, Professor of environmental toxicology at Leeds University, said osmium tetroxide was a rare catalyst - a chemical that speeds experiments - and could potentially make an explosion occur more rapidly.
But Professor Hay told the BBC it would have to be obtained from a specialist chemical supplier and it did not fit the profile of a typical chemical warfare or dirty bomb agent.
"It would not be in the same category as some radioactive substance which would continue to emit radiation and cause a problem in terms of clean up.
"This would be something present, like a heavy metal like lead, in the environment. I don't think it would be a major hazard and clean up would not be a major problem," he said.
Osmium tetroxide is not known as a chemical weapon agent
Intelligence agents in the UK and US have foiled an alleged chemical bomb plot in Britain, the BBC has learnt.
The plot was believed to involve detonating a combination of explosive and a chemical called osmium tetroxide.
Experts say in gas form it could be lethal in a confined space.
The plotters were thought to be sympathetic to the aims of al-Qaeda and the intended target was believed to be British civilians, probably in London.
The chemical has a legitimate scientific use for research but is highly destructive to peoples' eyes, lungs and skin.
Attack 'inevitable'
The plot was foiled after US and British intelligence intercepted communications between the plotters and it is not thought that they had managed to obtain any of the chemical, osmium tetroxide.
The target was thought to be areas in which there would be concentrations of people, possibly within a confined space.
The UK has been on a high state of alert since bombings in Madrid on 11 March claimed 191 lives.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir John Stevens said a terror attack on London was inevitable but Home Secretary David Blunkett has tried to play this down.
OSMIUM TETROXIDE
Laboratory chemical which requires precautions when handled
Used in scientific experiments, not known as a chemical weapon agent
Toxic and irritant, even in small amounts
Direct contact causes skin and eye damage
What is osmium tetroxide?
Alastair Hay, Professor of environmental toxicology at Leeds University, said osmium tetroxide was a rare catalyst - a chemical that speeds experiments - and could potentially make an explosion occur more rapidly.
But Professor Hay told the BBC it would have to be obtained from a specialist chemical supplier and it did not fit the profile of a typical chemical warfare or dirty bomb agent.
"It would not be in the same category as some radioactive substance which would continue to emit radiation and cause a problem in terms of clean up.
"This would be something present, like a heavy metal like lead, in the environment. I don't think it would be a major hazard and clean up would not be a major problem," he said.