Rome fears of 'chemical bomb'

Electronic Telegraph ^ | 22/02/2002 | Bruce Johnston in Rome

[aculeus]

QUANTITIES of a cyanide-based substance found in a Rome flat used by four suspected Islamic terrorists may have been part of a "chemical bomb" plot against the city.

The bomb theory emerged yesterday as magistrates charged the four, all Moroccans, with subversive terrorism, a crime carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years.

The investigations into the men, arrested on Tuesday, initially focused on suggestions that they were planning an attack the on city's water supply or the American embassy.

But officials said the nine pounds of potassium ferro-cyanide would have been too difficult to introduce into water conduits, where their effect would have been negligible anyway.

Experts now suspect that the chemical may have been meant as an ingredient in a bomb designed to go off in a closed, busy place, such as an underground station.

The newspaper La Repubblica reported that when heated to 500C, the substance gives off lethally toxic fumes.

Police investigating a suspected Milan terrorist cell which is believed to be linked to the Moroccans and to the al-Qa'eda network overheard Ben Lased, a Libyan known as "the chemist", telling the cell's leader, Essi Sami Ben Khemais, last year: "Only need 10 people and 10 litres. The liquid is very powerful, it's enough to open it and everyone suffocates."

Police, who searched the Moroccans' flat in Via Buscemi, also found six maps highlighting the American and British embassies and the city's water and gas and electricity pipelines.

They were also said to have seized more than two pounds of a form of gunpowder.

As a precaution yesterday, water officials carried out tests below ground near the American embassy after claims that pipes had been interfered with.

[RightWhale]

Good job by the police of Milan and Rome. Money well spent.

[aculeus]

Good job by the police of Milan and Rome. Money well spent.

It's also important to know exactly what they planned.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

now italy if you want to retaliate make sure you have a coalition

[BrooklynGOP]

I think that while italians fear a chemical act, we should take our time and try to understand the terrorists..

[McGavin999]

It's important for europe to understand that THEY are a target too.

[doug from upland]

Okay, who is next to sign up for our war on terrorism? If you are not with us, you end up dead.

[RightWhale]

This is the kind of attack that could easily be staged in hundreds of cities simultaneously, even though for the most part it wouldn't be very effective. But if it is carried off successfully, even fence-sitting countries should come awake and join the campaign against terrorism. Maybe even Saudi Arabia, but that's a long shot.

[sheik yerbouty]

Every western country should cast the jihadists out before it's too late!

[Frances_Marion]

"Police, who searched the Moroccans' flat in Via Buscemi, also found six maps highlighting the American and British embassies and the city's water and gas and electricity pipelines."

What? You mean this isn't about U.S. support of Israel or U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia? I'm SHOCKED! :P

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

Move along. It is NOT about religion. They were not after the location of the Vatican. Islam = peace. This message will repeat in 5 seconds.

1....2.....3.....4......5

[aculeus]

Bump