WMD and the new terror playbook
The government should remain vigilant as the possibility of chemical or biological terrorism is real.
THE arrest of a doctor in Gujarat for an alleged ricin-related plot and arrests of other doctors linked to the recent terror attack in Delhi have brought the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) back in focus. WMDs encompass nuclear, chemical and biological agents, defined by their capacity to cause mass casualties and large-scale disruption. Chemical agents such as sarin and toxins like ricin can produce rapid, lethal effects even in tiny quantities. Biological agents like anthrax or the eradicated but still-stored smallpox carry the added danger of a silent spread, overwhelming public health systems and destabilising regions. The convergence of radicalisation, technical expertise and access to sensitive materials frames the security context in which these cases must be viewed.
