FBI: WMD ingredients readily available
From Kevin Bohn
CNN Washington Bureau
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI reminded state and local law enforcement agencies Wednesday that many readily available materials can be used to make a variety of chemical and biological agents.
The bureau asked agencies to report any suspicious activity "potentially related to the production of improvised chemical and biological weapons" to federal officials.
In its weekly bulletin to law enforcement, the FBI referred to arrests in January in Britain of what it called Algerian extremists who allegedly had traces of the toxic chemical ricin at their residences.
The bulletin said such events "indicate an ongoing interest among terrorists in developing improvised weapons of mass destruction."
"Materials and equipment needed for clandestine CB [chemical biological] laboratories are available at supermarkets, hardware stores, hobby shops, and scientific/laboratory supply companies," the bulletin said. It listed such items as yeast, infant formula, sugar, water, epsom salts, gloves, stoves, refrigerators and antibiotics.
The FBI also said agar plates -- stainless steel plates similar to petri dishes available at many laboratories -- are an effective tool for cultivating and producing highly infectious bacteria. "These agar plates could produce sufficient quantities of bacteria to sicken or kill large numbers of people," it said.
Separately, an arm of the U.S. State Department known as the Overseas Security Advisory Council is notifying American companies about some of the known potential indicators of weapons of mass destruction threats and urged people to be alert.
Some of those indicators include unusual packages or powders or liquids found near air intake or air conditioning systems, surveillance of specific targeted areas, unusual or unscheduled spraying and thefts of chemical products or equipment.
