Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 42
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Module One – Toxic Warfare: Looking Beyond Conventional Chemical Weapons
42
Accessibility is a key concept when it comes to how vulnerable we may be with regard to
chemical X and chemical Y. Military warfare chemicals such as sarin or tabun are tightly
secured by the military. While we may be concerned that a rogue State or large and
well-financed terrorist enterprise may attempt to produce these extremely toxic warfare
chemicals, their inaccessibility to most people makes their likelihood of use (particularly
as an Agent of Opportunity) somewhat more remote.
However, Osmium tetroxide, as seen in this example - and probably also discovered by
the British terrorists - is sold by chemical supplies companies (sold at the time of the this
episode).
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 47