Law enforcement and intelligence forces across Europe have broken up an alleged terrorist ring that was planning an imminent wave of chemical attacks, according to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar (Sharrock/McGrory, London Times, Jan. 25).

It was reported last week that North African terrorism suspects recently arrested in the United Kingdom might have been planning to poison a British military base’s food supply with ricin (see GSN, Jan. 24).

Referring to Spanish arrests Friday of 16 suspected al-Qaeda operatives (see GSN, Jan. 24), Aznar said, “Police have broken up a major terrorist network … linked in this case to the criminal organization of [al-Qaeda leader Osama] bin Laden,” the Washington Post reported.

“The network had connections with terrorists recently arrested in France and the United Kingdom, and they were preparing attacks with explosives and chemical materials,” he added (see GSN, Dec. 30, 2002; Peter Finn, Washington Post, Jan. 25).

Police arrested five Moroccans in northern Italy Thursday, the London Times reported Saturday.

“I am very pleased that in the catches in Italy and Spain that they have been able to get the arrests,” said British Home Secretary David Blunkett.  “We’ll learn from it very quickly and obviously, we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect ourselves in the U.K.” (Sharrock/McGrory, London Times, Jan. 25).

Chemical Suits Discovered

British authorities discovered chemical protection suits during a recent raid on a north London mosque, Australia’s Adelaide Advertiser reported.

Detectives kept the discovery secret amid fears that the disclosure would incite panic, according to the Advertiser.

Police are conducting tests to determine if there are any chemical traces on the suits, detectives said (Adelaide Advertiser, Jan. 27).

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