Skip to comments.
LETHAL TOXIN DISCOVERED (UK)
Sky News ^
| Jan 7, 2003
| Sky News
Posted on 01/07/2003 9:05:21 AM PST by snippy_about_it
Anti-terrorist police are questioning six men after discovering traces of the highly toxic poison ricin in London.
The toxin, to which there is no antidote, has been linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
It causes massive damage to internal organs, and normally kills within three days of ingestion.
The men are of north African origin. They were arrested after an operation by the anti-terrorist branch in north and east London on Sunday.
Scotland Yard said equipment and materials were found at an address in Wood Green in north London, where one of the man was also arrested. A woman also arrested has since been released.
Assassination
Ricin was the poison used to murder Bulgarian exile Georgi Markov in a poisoned umbrella assassination in London in 1978.
Public health workers throughout the NHS have been alerted to be on the lookout for symptoms of ricin exposure in patients.
It is understood that so far no-one has been to a doctor showing any signs of having been in contact with the toxin.
Today's news comes weeks after security sources warned of a possible terror attack involving London underground.
Statement
In a joint statement, anti-terrorist chief David Veness and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Pat Troop said: "A small amount of the material recovered from the Wood Green premises has been tested positive for the presence of ricin poison.
"Our primary concern is the safety of the public and the police have worked closely with the Department of Health throughout.
"The Department is now alerting the health service, including primary care, about these developments.
"It is also ensuring that the health service is able to provide advice to the public, including through NHS Direct.
Investigations
The statement adds: "Intensive police investigations are continuing and forensic analysis of the premises in Wood Green will take some time to complete.
"While our message is still 'alert not alarm', we would re-iterate our earlier appeals for the public to remain vigilant and aware and report anything suspicious to police.
Terrorist expert Professor Paul Wilkinson told Sky News: "Ricin is not an obvious weapon to use to cause mass injury, but it is worrying that such a poison was being held so near to an array of targets in central London."
TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: healthalert; ricin; terrorists; uk
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-58 next last
Nationwide Health alert issued in Britian. Authorities don't know where the manufactured stuff may have been distributed or if it even has been yet.
To: MadIvan
ping.
Stay safe.
To: snippy_about_it
Britian = Britain...sorry, I was in a hurry.
To: snippy_about_it
What the hell???
I just got in.....oh wow!
4
posted on
01/07/2003 9:11:12 AM PST
by
Dog
(Shecky Green is my hero.......)
To: Dog; Poohbah; mhking; section9; Miss Marple
FYI.
Holy ****.
5
posted on
01/07/2003 9:15:03 AM PST
by
hchutch
Comment #6 Removed by Moderator
To: hchutch
I'm not sure, but I think this poison was used on a recent episode of CSI. I know it's only TV, but their portrayal of how this poison works was terrifying.
To: snippy_about_it
8
posted on
01/07/2003 9:19:19 AM PST
by
Sender
To: MadIvan
Ivan stay safe..
9
posted on
01/07/2003 9:20:18 AM PST
by
Dog
To: snippy_about_it
This was the plot of the death of a woman on CSI last Thurs. She was trying to kill her boss....and made the stuff in her kitchen. She had laid her pen down. At work the next day she put the pen in her mouth and oops. Very interesting. The mistake this story pushing is that you have to have a big manufacturing ops. Any kitchen will do. NOW THAT'S SCAREY.
10
posted on
01/07/2003 9:20:23 AM PST
by
marty60
To: TontoKowalski
Didn't see your post. It's my favorite show. I bet the writer of this episode is sick.
11
posted on
01/07/2003 9:22:07 AM PST
by
marty60
To: Dog
This news was breaking on FOX and they were talking to a reporter from Sky News and she said they think they were manufacturing it in this flat and they have no idea where the "contents" are, thus they have issued a UK nationwide alert.
I would be real worried about my food or water supply.
To: snippy_about_it
They should get all the information out of these bastards that they can - by torture if necessary - and then line them up and shoot them. This is war.
13
posted on
01/07/2003 9:24:08 AM PST
by
Timesink
(FINISH THE DAMN GAME!!!!)
To: snippy_about_it
I am sort of confused here......have they found all the ricin?? Or is it missing??
14
posted on
01/07/2003 9:24:11 AM PST
by
Dog
To: Timesink
Give these creepys to the SAS boys......they will get the info out of them...PDQ
15
posted on
01/07/2003 9:25:26 AM PST
by
Dog
To: snippy_about_it
>>The men are of north African origin.
Why don't they just say that they're peaceful, friendly Muslims?
To: Dog
I am sort of confused here......have they found all the ricin?? Or is it missing?? Well, the problem is that a thimble full could kill hundreds. That's the impression I get when it was said that an amount the size of a pin head could kill a full grown man.
17
posted on
01/07/2003 9:26:38 AM PST
by
Snowy
((Seeking out tin foil))
To: snippy_about_it
Ah...the power of beans.
18
posted on
01/07/2003 9:27:36 AM PST
by
lepton
To: Snowy
The Soviet KGB used it in the old days. A little bit goes a long way. No andidote, easily applied.
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-58 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson