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U.S. report outlines possible terrorist attacks
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Wed. Mar. 16 2005 12:52 PM ET
Possible future terrorist attack scenarios include the use of nerve gas, anthrax and pneumonic plague, according to a report by the U.S. agency responsible for protecting homeland security.
The confidential report will be made public over the next few months, Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse told The Associated Press.
The report, which was commissioned under a presidential directive in December 2003, was inadvertently posted on websites of several American states, including Hawaii, before it was taken down.
Homeland Security "has developed a number of scenarios that will aid federal, state and local homeland security officials in developing plans to become more prepared to prevent and respond to an act of terrorism, should it occur," Roehrkasse said.
"The overall goal is to increase the overall baseline preparedness of all states and cities throughout the country," he said.
But officials said there is no credible evidence that any of these attacks are in the works.
The report also estimates the financial damage and loss of human life that would ensue from the terror attack scenarios.
According to The New York Times, which first reported the draft plan on its website on Tuesday, the terror scenarios include:
Blowing up a chlorine talk, which would kill 17,500 people and injure more than 100,000
Spreading pneumonic plague in the washrooms of an airport, sports arena and train station, which would kill 2,500 and make 8,000 ill
Infecting cattle with foot and mouth disease, which would result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Roehrkasse said a nuclear bomb, exploding liquid chlorine tank or anthrax spray were reported to be the most devastating attacks.
An estimated 350,000 people could be exposed, and about 13,200 could die, if terrorists were to drive through five cities over a two-week time span, spraying anthrax from a truck, according to the report.
News of the report came two weeks after a Spanish newspaper suggested the discovery of information about New York's Grand Central Station in the possession of a Madrid train bombing suspect indicated that terrorists plotted more than one attack.
Citing sources close to the Madrid bombing that killed 191 people last March, El Mundo
reported that police discovered hand-made drawings and technical information on a computer disk seized at one suspect's home.
El Mundo reported: "Prosecutors at the High Court have informed the FBI and the CIA that the perpetrators of the March 11 attacks had in their possession plans to attack Grand Central Station in New York."
But U.S. authorities downplayed the significance of the material.
"It is not something that would indicate an immediate threat to a facility," New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said at the time. With files from The Associated Press
© Copyright 2004 Bell Globemedia Inc.
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Wed. Mar. 16 2005 12:52 PM ET
Possible future terrorist attack scenarios include the use of nerve gas, anthrax and pneumonic plague, according to a report by the U.S. agency responsible for protecting homeland security.
The confidential report will be made public over the next few months, Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse told The Associated Press.
The report, which was commissioned under a presidential directive in December 2003, was inadvertently posted on websites of several American states, including Hawaii, before it was taken down.
Homeland Security "has developed a number of scenarios that will aid federal, state and local homeland security officials in developing plans to become more prepared to prevent and respond to an act of terrorism, should it occur," Roehrkasse said.
"The overall goal is to increase the overall baseline preparedness of all states and cities throughout the country," he said.
But officials said there is no credible evidence that any of these attacks are in the works.
The report also estimates the financial damage and loss of human life that would ensue from the terror attack scenarios.
According to The New York Times, which first reported the draft plan on its website on Tuesday, the terror scenarios include:
Blowing up a chlorine talk, which would kill 17,500 people and injure more than 100,000
Spreading pneumonic plague in the washrooms of an airport, sports arena and train station, which would kill 2,500 and make 8,000 ill
Infecting cattle with foot and mouth disease, which would result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Roehrkasse said a nuclear bomb, exploding liquid chlorine tank or anthrax spray were reported to be the most devastating attacks.
An estimated 350,000 people could be exposed, and about 13,200 could die, if terrorists were to drive through five cities over a two-week time span, spraying anthrax from a truck, according to the report.
News of the report came two weeks after a Spanish newspaper suggested the discovery of information about New York's Grand Central Station in the possession of a Madrid train bombing suspect indicated that terrorists plotted more than one attack.
Citing sources close to the Madrid bombing that killed 191 people last March, El Mundo
reported that police discovered hand-made drawings and technical information on a computer disk seized at one suspect's home.
El Mundo reported: "Prosecutors at the High Court have informed the FBI and the CIA that the perpetrators of the March 11 attacks had in their possession plans to attack Grand Central Station in New York."
But U.S. authorities downplayed the significance of the material.
"It is not something that would indicate an immediate threat to a facility," New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said at the time. With files from The Associated Press
© Copyright 2004 Bell Globemedia Inc.
