Chemical terrorism
Encyclopedia
Chemical terrorism is the form of terrorism
that uses the toxic effects of chemicals to kill, injure, or otherwise adversely affect the interests of its targets.
in 2000, Hamas
has pursued a capability to conduct chemical terrorism. There have been reports of Hamas operatives planning and preparing attacks incorporating chemicals. In once case, nails and bolts packed into explosives detonated by a Hamas suicide bomber in a December 2001 attack at the Ben-Yehuda street in Jerusalem were soaked in rat poison
. In another case, Hamas operative Abbas al-Sayyid received a large quantity of cyanide
which he intended to insert into the explosive belt
s worn by suicide bombers.
synchronized chemical attacks on five trains. Using simple
lunch-box-sized dispensers to release a mixture containing the military
nerve agent Sarin, members of the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult killed
twelve people and injured about a thousand others. The incident was
unusual because the cult was using nerve gas that it had made in its own
facilities; however, using unsophisticated means to disperse this
low-quality agent, the attackers produced results less impressive than
those achieved with ordinary explosives in the attacks on the Madrid and
London transport systems in 2004 and 2005.
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
that uses the toxic effects of chemicals to kill, injure, or otherwise adversely affect the interests of its targets.
Used by Hamas in Israel
According to a statement by CIA director George TenetGeorge Tenet
George John Tenet was the Director of Central Intelligence for the United States Central Intelligence Agency, and is Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University....
in 2000, Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
has pursued a capability to conduct chemical terrorism. There have been reports of Hamas operatives planning and preparing attacks incorporating chemicals. In once case, nails and bolts packed into explosives detonated by a Hamas suicide bomber in a December 2001 attack at the Ben-Yehuda street in Jerusalem were soaked in rat poison
Rat poison
Rodenticides are a category of pest control chemicals intended to kill rodents.Single feed baits are chemicals sufficiently dangerous that the first dose is sufficient to kill....
. In another case, Hamas operative Abbas al-Sayyid received a large quantity of cyanide
Cyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
which he intended to insert into the explosive belt
Explosive belt
An explosive belt is an improvised explosive device, a belt or a vest packed with explosives and armed with a detonator, worn by suicide bombers...
s worn by suicide bombers.
Used by Aum Shinrikyo in Japan
On the morning of March 20, 1995, the Tokyo subway system was hit bysynchronized chemical attacks on five trains. Using simple
lunch-box-sized dispensers to release a mixture containing the military
nerve agent Sarin, members of the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult killed
twelve people and injured about a thousand others. The incident was
unusual because the cult was using nerve gas that it had made in its own
facilities; however, using unsophisticated means to disperse this
low-quality agent, the attackers produced results less impressive than
those achieved with ordinary explosives in the attacks on the Madrid and
London transport systems in 2004 and 2005.