US Concern Grows Over Qaeda Poison Threat
Source: thejakartaglobe Washington. The Obama administration is concerned that a dangerous regional arm of al Qaeda is trying to produce the deadly poison ricin to use in attacks against the United States, the New York Times reported on Friday. Citing unnamed intelligence officials and classified intelligence reports, the newspaper said al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen has been trying to acquire large quantities of castor beans, used to produce ricin. It said the apparent intent was to pack the poison around small explosives that could be exploded to disperse the ricin, a white powdery substance so deadly that a speck can kill if inhaled or taken into the bloodstream. The Times said the apparent intent was to detonate the explosives in enclosed spaces like a shopping mall or airport. President Barack Obama and top security aides were briefed about the threat last year, the report said, and have received updates since then but added that senior American officials said th