Paris, London ricin could be related:Al-Qaida cell may have planned chemical attacks

Los Angeles Times via Houston Chronicle ^ | March 21, 2003 | SEBASTIAN ROTELLA

[sarcasm]

PARIS -- Police suspect that the traces of the poison ricin discovered in a train station locker here are connected to recent alleged plots by al-Qaida to produce the deadly substance in London and to carry out chemical attacks in Paris, authorities said Friday.

The discovery this week of the toxin, which is derived from the castor bean plant and can be used as a biological weapon, was unprecedented in France. It caused concern in a capital that, as a result of the war in Iraq, has gone on heightened alert for possible terrorist attacks.

< SNIP >

One of the suspected leaders is Abu Musab Zarqawi, a veteran terrorist who has operated in Iraq with the protection of the Iraqi regime, according to U.S. officials.

[Allan]

Good news.
If the chumps in al-Qaeda still are mucking about with ricin
it means they don't have anthrax.

[whadizit]

If terrorism hits France, I would be sad for French, but glad if ShIraq got it in the butt!!

[Peach]

I thought AQ would hit the US harder if we went to Iraq. What's the reason they would hit their friends, the French, who didn't go to Iraq? Of course, the reason is, AQ doesn't need a reason to carry out its ideological hatred of all that is Westernized.

[Mitchell]

The ricin found in Paris on Monday was part of a stash also containing two vials of a powder and a bottle of a liquid. The traces of ricin were found in two other bottles. As far as I know, the powder and liquid have not been identified. (Here's a link.)

[Mitchell]

Just to follow up on this, I see the article that this thread is about says:

Along with two flasks that tested positive for ricin traces, police found three more flasks containing ethanol and acetone in the luggage locker at the Gare de Lyon, the interior minister said. The mix of chemicals could indicate a plan to fabricate an explosive, authorities said.

There's no mention of powder here, and the number of flasks is different. Of course, the report doesn't claim to list the complete contents of the locker (even though one's first inclination is to read it that way).

[The Great Satan]

Sounds like another endogeneous, amateur-hour effort from the shoe-bomb people.

[swilhelm73]

I wonder if the French government is paying any attention to this part of the analysis;
One of the suspected leaders is Abu Musab Zarqawi, a veteran terrorist who has operated in Iraq with the protection of the Iraqi regime, according to U.S. officials.
This does teach us appeasment doesn't work in glaring detail, doesn't it?

[powderhorn]

What's the reason they would hit their friends, the French, who didn't go to Iraq?

If they hit the US we would redouble our efforts to hurt them back. AQ wouldn't want that to happen. No, better to go after a nation that shows obvious weakness. The weaker, the better. France will try to buy them off, then AQ will take the money to finance more terror cells inside of France so they can keep bleeding the Frogs.

[JoJo Gunn]

It would be to their advantage to further inflame the enmity between us and France too, the same as Leftist chimps like to loot and burn and vomit and sit back and screech in delight.

[hotpotato]

I thought AQ would hit the US harder if we went to Iraq. What's the reason they would hit their friends, the French, who didn't go to Iraq?

Because...

"The case has contributed to longtime fears that war in Iraq will provoke terror strikes in Europe, especially on U.S. and British targets, by al-Qaida and other groups intent on retaliating for the invasion of a Muslim country. "

The US will be blamed, not the terrorists. It's sort of the same logic the public uses when blaming Israel for Palestinian suicide bombers blowing up Israeli citizens. Terrorists get a sick twisted pleasure out of turning groups against each other.

[WaterDragon]

The French may not be as safe from terrorism as they think....their good buddies, the terrorists, are treacherous liars and backstabbers ....just like the French!

[eno_]

The French surrendered after Toulouse got blown up.

[whadizit]

Right! Terrorism is not prejudiced. They just carry it out wherever and whenever they can.