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Terrorists have the potential to use a weapon of mass destruction in an attack on Australia, the government in Canberra said in a report released yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 27, 2008).
(Feb. 23) -
Emergency response personnel pass through a decontamination shower during a 2007 chemical-biological-radiological hostage drill in Australia. Terrorists could attempt a WMD strike in Australia, the nation's government concluded in a report made public yesterday (Simon Fergusson/Getty Images).
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States "highlighted how creative and ruthless terrorist attack planning can be. The potential for terrorist use of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) weapons is of particular concern," according to the report, Securing Australia: Protecting Our Community. "We know that a small number of terrorists seek CBRN weapon capabilities and would use them if they could. While the risk is small, the consequences of any such attack would be devastating."
It adds: "The acquisition of a nuclear weapon is currently beyond terrorist capability though a crude, low-yield nuclear device is possible. An attack with a radiological dirty bomb, biological materials or industrial chemicals is feasible and could have a significant impact even if it only succeeded in generating widespread panic. But obtaining, producing, handling and deploying such weapons is difficult. Domestic and international efforts to secure CBRN materials are crucial to limit the risk of a CBRN attack."
While counterterrorist forces have seen successes in battling extremists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere, "these successes have been offset by the rise of groups affiliated with, or inspired by, al‑Qaeda's message and methods, with new areas such as Somalia and Yemen joining existing areas of concern in South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East and the Gulf," the report says.
Since Canberra issued its last counterterrorism white paper in 2004, the nation has seen a growing danger from Australian natives and nationals who have accepted the "violent jihadist message," according to the document.
A number of Australians are known to subscribe to this message, some of whom might be prepared to engage in violence," it says. "Many of these individuals were born in Australia and they come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. The pool of those committed to violent extremism in Australia is not static -- over time some move away from extremism while others become extreme."
The Australian government has developed a four-part antiterrorism strategy of analysis, protection, response and resilience. Among the existing and planned efforts are establishment of a national Counterterrorism Control Center to "integrate" intelligence activities and creation of a $61 million system to gather fingerprints and facial images for people applying for Australian visas from certain areas.
"This initiative will reduce the risk of terrorists, criminals and other persons of concern entering Australia undetected," the report says (Global Security Newswire, Feb. 23).