* As posted on http://canoe.ca

Canada warned of toxic attacks
By CP

OTTAWA -- Canadian police and security officials have been quietly warned
that al-Qaida terrorists might try to contaminate food or water with deadly
toxins. 
A secret intelligence report, distributed to key federal authorities by the
Privy Council Office, expresses concern al-Qaida extremists could use
lethal substances such as ricin and botulinum. A declassified version of
the document was obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to
Information Act.

Toxins, some more powerful than the strongest nerve agents, can be made
from a variety of readily available plants, fungus, bacteria or animals,
the report says. "They have considerable potential as terrorist
weapons for isolated incidents causing small-scale casualties along with
public panic and disruption."

The February 2003 report, Ricin and Botulinum: Terrorist Use of Toxins, was
compiled by the PCO's intelligence assessment secretariat, a division
bolstered following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S. by Osama bin
Laden's al-Qaida network. The study was prompted by the discovery last
January of ricin, a plant toxin made from castor beans, in a London
apartment, as well as the retrieval last year of al-Qaida training manuals
on the production and use of toxins.


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