Sheet Explosives - Revisited

Sheet Explosives: The Hidden Terrorist Threat?

Updated on December 20, 2005, Security officials in the State of New Mexico, issued an alert over an apparent theft from a private storage depot, which included amounts of C-4 “sheet explosives”. Experts warned that the quantity was sufficient to demolish an entire building.

According to reports, the unknown thieves used blowtorches to cut the thick steel walls of the bunker. Authorities have no idea who was behind the theft, nor where this dangerous material was now hidden. Also called “deta sheets”, these explosives are especially dangerous as they can be hidden in books or letters but cannot be spotted by an ordinary metal detector.

This week’s incident was not the first time that such high powered explosive material was targeted. Two years ago, in September 2003, New York Police issued an alert warning over missing explosives powerful enough to blow up a commercial airliner. The report mentioned that a quantity of ‘Primasheet’ disappeared under “mysterious” circumstances from a depot at Newark International Airport.

The continuing threat of global terrorism may have entered into a new era, introducing a sofar little publicised substance called Sheet Explosives, which was allegedly used, the first time in Israel, by the two British suicide bombers in the Tel Aviv beachfront pub attack April 30,2003.

Original Post:

What Are Sheet Explosives?

Also named Plastic Bonded Explosives (PBX) this substance normally consists of a mixture of PETN ( Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate) and plastic polymer, such as polystyrene or polyester. These explosives have a high mechanical strength and excellent explosive properties, while extremely stable to shock. They rate among the most powerful and versatile explosives but are, surprisingly, also available from commercial sources, especially in eastern Europe.

The product consists of fine explosive particles embedded in a rubbery elastometric binder and is normally available in rolls with inner layers of waxpaper preventing adhesion of the rolled explosives. Distinctive standard colours indicate the explosive component: C4, or PE4 ( British) is white and Semtex-H orange.

The German Army used a similar product named Nipolit as an early sheet explosive, during WW2, but the first technological break-through happened in the early sixties, when the American firm DuPont perfected the Detasheet as the first reliable sheet explosive, which is widely used in various forms for boosters, steel cutting and explosive welding operations. The American product comes in two basic configurations: the commercial use "Detasheet A" consisting of 85% plasticised PETN with an oil based binder and the military version named "Detasheet B" or "Flex-X", M-118 ( measuring 1/4 inch thick, 3 inches wide and 12 inches long) which has less PETN (65%) and is typified by its olive green colour.
The PBX material is characterised by its smooth rubber -like texture and can be obtained commercially in flat sheet sizes ranging from 1.5mm to 6mm and above.

The sheet explosives pose one of the greatest threats to commerial aviation today, as it can be easily concealed in passenger hand luggage. Organic substances, of which PBX is formed, have low -Z signature and when formed into thin sheets are difficult to detect by conventional transmission methods.

Known Terrorist Uses of PBX

According to Israeli security sources, there have been previous incidents, in which
PBX substances have been used by terrorists, although not directly by Palestinian organisations.
The Israeli daily Maariv mentioned an incident in 1996, in which an unidentified person sent letters, from a post office in Alexandria, Egypt, addressed to leading newspapers in London and Washington, which fortunately were intercepted by security, containing what was suspected as sheet explosives. The sender's intention was to attract attention to a leading Egyptian al Aqeda member incarcerated in a Kansas prison after the 1993 Twin Tower attack in New York.

The two Britons involved in the Tel Aviv bombing attack last week smuggled their explosives in a Muslim holy Koran book. Israeli defence minister Shaul Mofaz announced, that " our investigation has determined that the two terrorists hid small amounts of high-powered explosives in a copy of the Koran to get it accross our checkposts". Security sources claimed that the explosives, devoid of metal outwitted the scanners on the Gaza crossings. Later reports indicated that the material was suspected to be a kind of sheet explosives and that the detonators, possibly, det cord, or Cordex were obtained locally and ferried in by a separate person to the rendez-vous in the Tel Aviv Hostel.

One of the most attractive means used by terrorists in the early seventies was the so-called "Letter Bomb". The first samples contained mechanical and electronic components activating powerful plastic explosives. The PLO "Black September" movement became notorious in mailing such deadly messages to Israeli diplomats between 1972-73 until police forensic experts found ways to intercept and safely defuse these.

The letters contained spring-loaded mechanical devices, activating a miniaturised non-electric detonator. Mounted on cardboard were flat-pressed explosives, but the entire concept was easily detected due to its bulky shape, which attracted suspicion.

A more effective device was "invented" during the eighties, when Musical greeting cards became commercial items. These contain miniature flat batteries, miniaturised circuit boards with electronic components activated by metal leaf springs and a paper or plastic pull tab. Terrorist sabotage experts soon modified these by adding a few components including a miniaturised detonator and PBX sheet explosives. This device exploded on activation of the Musical greeting card.

Two attempts to smuggle explosive devices on to El Al flights occured in 1986. The first ( mentioned in JTIC above) happened in London 17 April 1986, when Jordanian- Palestinian Nizar Hindawi allegedly inserted an explosive sheet device into a double liner of a suitcase, destined to Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli security agents acting on a tip off intercepted the suitcase and neutralised its contents before it was loaded into the cargo bay. Hindawi acted on orders of General Muhammad al-Khouli, the Syrian air force intelligence chief. The same officer was also responsible for another attempt, this time in Madrid airport, only three months later. On 26 June 1986 Nasser Khalil Ali, member of the Syrian-backed Abu Mussa terror organisation, tried to place a similar suitcase on the El Al check-in counter. This time, unfortunately, the device exploded prematurely, wounding 13 bystanders.

New PBX Detection Measures

Due to the nature of PBX conventional detection systems are not effective to prevent smuggling of this substance. X-ray scanners are normally sensitive to heavy-metal (high atomic number) elements and give only limited indication of low-atomic signatures. Vapour detectors are inneffective in meeting either of these missions. Recently, new detection methods have been developed to overcome PBX smuggling at airports and border-crossings.

The new system, named Inelastic-Gamma Ray & Spectroscopy ( IGRIS), is combining the various measurements, analyses them to achieve positive identification of threat material, including PBX.
Specially trained sniffer dogs are also used in this field, trained with special canine testing apparatus.

Summary
A leading Israeli forensic expert, responding to the Tel Aviv beachfront attack, claims that the effect of PBX as an explosive device for suicide bombers is limited.

Explaining that the material has considerable blasting power, but disperses widely, thus its effective damage radius is limited. The shock effect is somewhat reduced, compared to other plastic explosive charges used, which normally include metal scrap enhancing casualties, PBX has a low fragmentation effect. The main damage from PBX used in suicide attacks would be from severe burns, as were indeed reported resulting from this incident.

While somewhat ineffective to Suicide bombers, PBX sheet explosives are highly dangerous devices otherwise and pose a serious challenge to security and counter-terror agencies. One of its main charcteristics is the average detonation velocity which reaches 7,800 meters p/sec! Through this phenomen, a high air pressure environment is created on the explosion, which can be extremely lethal to nearby persons. Counter terror experts warn, that future use of PBX and various sheet explosives depend only on the imagination of terrorists.

The Role of Technology in Counter-Terror Warfare
(Terrorism- part III)

A recent study by retired Brigadier General Uzi Eilam, published by the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (JCSS) , shed some interesting focus over Israeli thoughts on global terrorism. Eilam, former head R&D , MOD chief scientist and head of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission is also a leading authority on non-conventional terrorism.

According to Eilam, the "persistent suicide bombings in Iraq and Israel in the aftermath of the US actions, signals clearly that terrorism is not a passing phenomen". The loose way those cells are spread and organised around the world obliges those fighting terror to adopt innovative thinking. The challenge is one of assymetric confrontation. On the one hand, terror organisations are operating successfully with relatively simple means, shrewdly manipulating brain washed volunteers to act as highly lethal 'human precision bombs', a simple method for a rather sophisticated weapon. On the other, states are failing to protect themselves even with their superior military power and highly advanced technology, due to democratic constraints, which hamper their full use.

Terrorists enjoy an intrinsic advantage, that even isolated attacks, which succeed can achieve their aim, namely to spread panic and fear, even by their very threat to strike. Recent examples are not lacking: Following the failed SA-7 launch at the Arkia airliner taking off from Mobassa, commercial aviation is about to invest billions of dollars in sophisticated defence equipment. Threat warnings over potential terrorist attacks have virtually paralysed Israeli inter-urban traffic for hours on end, while the similar warnings nearly stopped air traffic to the USA over the last holidays.

Thus, while many of the attempted terrorist attacks are successfully foiled, their strategic aim can nevertheless be achieved by creating psychological panic in the target area. General Eilam advises to seek a force multiplier in developing advanced technology to overcome this prevailing deficiency. While, he stresses, that even the highest grade of technology cannot promise total immunity against terrorist attacks, it can substantially reduce existing vulnerabilities, by focusing on the most menacing threats, identify the options for counter terrorism activities specify the requirement priorities for necessary technological effort, to furnish efficient means for the defence against the growing terrorist threat.

There is no single technology, nor is there a single line of defence, that will render a comprehensive reply to combat post-modern terrorism. Rather the construction of a 'layered defensive' model, would be pointing in the right direction. Layers of defence around air travel should include biometrics confirming identity of travellers, fortifying aircraft cockpits against hostile penetration, arming aircrews, or introduce mandatory air marshals, equip civil airliners with effective anti-missile systems and use sophsticated electronic surveillance to guard airport perimeters against Manpad missiles.

The defence of naval ports and waterways would dictate an extended security zone. Security should start already at high sea approaches, so that suspect vessels could be intercepted while still out of range. Stringent measures will have to be introduced to check containers, similar to pre-flight airport baggage. Sophisticated long-range radar systems and sensors must be developed with advanced science specialising in this new discipline. A superior sea and air defence against terror would only become effective once a fully integrated network of global intelligence sharing will become norm.

Border security is another problem which has to be addressed. Especially throughout the 'open border' system in the European Union free traffic zone, can become a 'safe haven' for potential terrorists. Moreover, the dormant networks of al Qaeda in Europe pose a constant challenge to security agencies, which require intimate exchange of intelligence over their movements. Sophisticated database technology will become imperative for counter-terror agencies in this field. When fully developed data mining will be used to detect automatically every unusual pattern in the movement of suspected terrorists, as well as monitor and intercept secret funding channels, rapid reaction can be put in force to foil these. Multimedia technology is a promising field which could in future place substantial means at the disposal of counter terrorist agencies.

One of these means could involve stand-off range detection and warning of explosives before they can be activated by suicide bombers. One of those systems which is about to be used in Israel will include special sensors on bus doors, providing warning of potential bomber about to enter. Remote sensing for distances up to 100m could become crucial in foiling suicide bomber attacks into crowded places, such as shopping malls, theaters or playgrounds.

Cyber terrorism is another threat that must be countered effectively by new supertechnology. The ability to identify cyber attackers is no longer a luxury against youthful hackers, but a real threat from highly sophisticated specialists in terrorist organisations. To defend against this threat will become a first priority target for all developed nations depending on vital computer networks for survival. Finally defence against what is now called "superterrorism" involving weapons of mass destruction will become the major challenge of all international counter-terrorist activities.

The threat of bio-terror is by far more acute than nuclear terrorism, the latter is requiring a much more sophisticated, state sponsored, infrastructure. But bio-terror is not only a poor man's weapon, but one which has incredible potential for spreading mass panic causing virtual national paralysis.
National assets to develop sophisticated biotechnology should be mobilised to find active defensive means against biological warfare threats.

The Threat of Post Modern Terrorism
Terrorism - Part II

Marking the second anniversary of the 9/11 bombings, the Israel based, International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT),opened its 3rd conference, last September, its largest event in its seven years of existance, gathering nearly two hundred leading international professional experts and academic scholars on terrorism and counter-terrorism in Herzliya, Israel. This year's topic was termed "Post-Modern Terrorism- Trends, Scenarios and Future Threats" by the organisers.

At the opening ceremony, Dr Boaz Ganor, ICT executive director defined this term: " The September 11 attacks signified the beginning of the shift from modern to post-modern terror. While modern terrorism is charcterised by executing attacks, small and large, in order to generate fear and dread in the target audience and to channel this fear to achieve various political goals, post-modern terrorism, in its lesser manifestations, aims to inflict enormous damage( killing and maiming tens thousands) through direct or indirect use of unconventional materials, such as chemical, biological and radiological and even nuclear". In his words, the extent of damage in 9/11 demonstrated the audacity of their perpetrators and their determination to start a new era of global terrorism.

Ganor noted five types of non-conventional terrorism which could be perpetrated in the not to distant future: chemical, biological, radiological ( 'dirty bombs'), nuclear and cyber terrorism ( information warfare). Sofar, the world has witnessed only a fraction of non-conventional warfare by nondescript terror groups, such as the limited, but panic spreading 'anthrax letter' campaign in the US, as well as the use of Sarin gas in the Tokyo subway and a few botched attempts elsewhere ( like rat poison mixed with explosive suicide devices in Israel, or ricin in the UK.)

According to Ganor 'The equation in terrorism always presents capability with motivation'. If it is a matter of chemical weapon grade substance capability, this exists and terrorists use of it remains only their determination to use it.

In post modern terrorism, Dr Ganor adds, the Islamic radical terrorist organisations, led by al Qaeda's Bin Laden, are guided through shrewd manipulations by Islamic scholars, interpreting the holy scriptures toward their political aims. In May 2003 the Saudi Sheikh Nasser Ben Hamed El Fahd, known as one of the leading spiritual leaders and a close associate of Bin Laden, ruled a fatwah ( religious law) 'granting religious legitimacy' to the use of non-conventional weapons to perpetrate mass killings against western targets'. His fiery preachings were widely distributed throughout the world over the Islamic internet websites.

(a translated version of the speech can be seen at http://www.ict.org.il under July 5, 2003 "Saudi cleric issues fatwah on the use of weapons of mass destruction" by Col Yoni Fighel and Moshe Marzouk).

Dr. Ganor mentions some parameters, which could make indiscriminate use of non-conventional weapons in terror attacks: religious ideology spurred by radical spiritual leadership, so-called 'end-of-the world anarchist groups and isolationists factions not concerned with the horrendous consequences of their actions.

Regarding international terrorism capabilities in the aftermath of the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns, Ganor mentions an enhanced threat through hidden cells of Islamic fundamentalist activists, so-called 'Afghan Alumni' veterans spread out all over world and belonging to dozens of little known organisations, each acting separately, along the spiritual (and sometimes operational) guidelines of al Qaeda.

While the former 'state sponsors' of terrorism seem to have deteriorated by the US led actions, there remain sufficient secret channels intact, for indirect funding and target information to ruthless operating cells, determined to act.

The Growing Threat of Global Terrorism
Introduction

Through the shock of 9/11 the world has awakened to a new era in terrorism, a totally different phenomen, which existed before the attacks on the United States. In the aftermath of those fateful days, the US started its unrelenting campaign against terrorism, under the slogan " War Against Terror".
But as 2004 opens, the free world is facing new threats, from a source, it never had dealt with before: Global Terrorism without borders and without restraints.

The US led campaign against the al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan, was no doubt, a brilliant military operation demonstrating skill and determination but it remains to be seen wether it achieved its full expectation: 'to rid the world of terrorism'.

Even the aftershock of the Iraqi campaign has not produced a full remedy to this
growing threat to world peace. In fact, while the al Qaeda infratructure has been virtually destroyed in its Taliban base, it is reinventing itself as a global network of terrorism, its cells scattered all over the world, operating under the motto to' wage merciless war under the banner of Islam against America and its allies'.

Conclusion:

Leading experts on global terrorism have expressed their view on counter-terror operations at the ICT conference.

A most important aspect was to define terror as such. " One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" is an evasive slogan much used by nations wishing to avoid direct confrontation with the problem. Without a clear definition of this subject, international cooperation in countering post-modern terror will be impossible.

Al Qaeda is running a sophisticated propaganda campaign to keep the free world public guessing as to what will come next. The organisation, is still very active in 'selling its message' to the Islamic world and there seems to be no lack of volunteers to fight and die 'in the name of Allah'.

To counter global terrorism an important rule must be observed: to fight terror with its own tactics. But in a democratic society this is not always feasible. Thus highly trained special counter-terror units have to wage unrelenting war against this threat, frequently even operating along ( and beyond) the 'thin line' fringes of the law.

Indispensably necessary is to take out the terrorist leadership by all means. These are the key figures as well as the spiritual guides of all terrorist operations. Although much has been achieved during the last years since 9/11, and top chieftains have been killed or captured, new leaders, some of them even more ruthless than their mentors are reaching command level. These younger zealot leaders are much more dangerous, as they are well trained in modern technology, capable to wage war over the threshhold of global terrorism- 'mega-terror' with non-conventional weapons.

In order to enhance internatonal counter terrorism activities, Dr Ganor has recently established a new academic forum called The International Counter-Terrorism Academic Community, with aim to address joint effort in developing 'think tanks' in support of national and international counter terrorism agencies.
One of the objectives of this new forum is to encourage the creation of a new league of nations to stand against the looming sourge which threatens world peace. This new union will include Western states and Third World countries led by the United States, Russia and hopefully the European Union and China.

The Origins of Modern Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorism
Terrorism - Part I

The modern Islamic 'Jihad' (holy war) started with the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union in the late seventies. Soviet forces were met by determined resistance by the Afghan 'Mujehideen' fighters, a major faction of which was the notorious Taliban.
Among the many Moslems rushing to fight in Afghanistan against the 'communist infidels' was a little known organisation by the name of Makhtab Al-Khidamat (MAK), the precursor organization to al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden.

From all over the Moslem world thousands flocked to join the Mujehideen to fight off the Soviet invasion and suprisingly, the ragtag army of Islamic warriors drove out the superpower, winning a smashing victory. This made a lasting impression on the consciousness of the Moslem world, giving new vigour to Islam, having suffered centuries of humiliation under the yoke of western imperialism. Flushed with the fruits of victory, the 'Afghan Alumni' as the veteran fighters become to be known, were barred by their own governments, fearing that these radical zealots presented mortal danger to the secular Moslem states from which they had departed. Some applied for asylum in the US, the country, which had supported the Mujehideen during its fight against the Soviets, but many remained in Afghanistan and became involved with Osama Bin Laden's newly created Al Qaeda organisation. Thus, through strategic shortsightendeness, the US-supported Afghan veterans were to emerge into a totally new kind of international terrorism, which two decades later was to threaten the entire free world and primarily the United States itself.

Over the years Bin Laden organised Al Qaeda into an effective chain of command structure. The organisation functioned at multi-level basis. At the top, a professional cadre of experienced operators, was in charge of planning large-scale attacks, such as the 1998 Embassy bombings or the monumental event of 9/11. Next in line were large numbers of well trained and highly motivated amateurs, charged with individual operations, like suicide attacks on minor targets and finally independent local groups spread around the world, sympathetic to al Qaeda's spiritual message, actively seeking to carry out attacks in the name of the 'Global Jihad', but without direct formal connection to al Qaeda as such. The latter are the most difficult to detect, as they operate under changing names and locations and are highly departmentalised terror cells.

Placing himself as 'Emir', Bin Laden named Ayman al-Zawahiri as al Qaeda's spiritual leader heading a religious 'shura' council of 30 scholars which issued the various 'fatwah's (religious laws) aimed to promote the al Qaeda cause throughout the Moslem world. Next in line were three committees:

The military committee in charge of training, weapons acquisition and operational planning.
The financial committee was charged to run global funding
The intelligence group provided target information, organised forged documents and safe houses in various countries.
At a later stage a special media group was established.

For nearly a decade al Qaeda remained, virtually safe, hiding under the auspices of Taliban in Afghanistan. But Bin Laden was a caucious person with a far sighted vision. In order for his organisation to prevail, anticipating that sooner or later the US would try to destroy his Afghan infrastructure, he formed a worldwide network of his disciples, funding terror operations, which started on small scale until more ambitious objectives were attacked. The first NY twin tower bombing in 1993 was only linked to Bin Laden, but the twin 1998 US embassy attacks in Kenya and Tansaniya were the direct work of his affiliated groups. By then al Qaeda had emerged into a highly dangerous terrorist organisation spreading world wide reputation among the Islamic world, culminating on 11 September 2001 with the simultaneous mass murder attacks in New York and Washington.

The US led Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan virtually destroyed al-Qaeda's infrastructure, depriving it from its major training bases. But its military capabilities to wage war through its surviving global terror reach remains intact. In fact, expert terror analysts have estimated, that Bin Laden's global terrorist network has yet to come into action, with dangerous 'sleeper' cells waiting for the signal to strike with 'mega-terror' even using non-conventional methods to achieve the ultimate goal, spreading fear and panic throughout the western world.

The increased American presence in the Middle East, especially in the strategic Gulf, after the lightning Iraqi Freedom campaign has left a tremendous impact, not only through its military achievements, but raised the motivation of Islamic fundamentalist movements to avenge what they believe the infidel's real intention to destroy Islam and deprive it from its natural wealth, the strategic oil reserves. What the leaders of modern 'Jihad' preach to their disciples is to wage an uncompromising war for the survival of Islam, not only as an ancient faith, but actually save it from extinction.

Osama Bin Laden's global strategy is based on three stages:

- to spread his vision of 'Dar-el-Islam' ( the realm of Islam) first to the Moslem countries ruled under secular leaders, but having already deep rooted Islamic radical factions in opposition, or in highly departmentalised secret cells waiting for their opportunity to strike and achieve power.

- however, Bin Laden is aware, that to topple those strong autocratic regimes in the Middle East, the US presence must first be eliminated, or forced to withdraw through, military or public pressure.

US and French withdrawal from Lebanon in the early eighties, after the Hizbollah suicide attacks, its hasty withdrawal from the botched intervention in Somalia and most of all Israel's forced withdrawal from South Lebanon in May 2000, have already set the stage for Bin Laden's strategic aims. Sofar the ongoing guerilla war in Iraq have failed to weaken the US determination to stay and fight it out there.

All eyes in the Islamic world are poised on the American conduct of the guerilla war in Iraq and much depends on its outcome. Should it fail, then Bin Laden's al Qaeda network will get into high gear to shift into the next step, the final stage of Jihad.

- Once the 'new colonialists', led by the United States are chased out, Islam could regain its former glory through the 'ultimate battle' to spread its rule, first in the Middle East and later from this new power base to the rest of western society, through inspiring the growing Moslem minorities already firmly established in these countries.

While most of the western scholars regard such a vision as megalomatic nonsense, a sober assessment of the real threats from what is named Post-Modern Terrorism should be taken very seriousely, as this phenomen is new and has already achieved substantial success in creating world wide panic, not to mention, a significant change in global strategic priorities.

Iran's National Deterrent: Weapons of Mass Destruction Program
Biological Warfare

Changes in the Strategic Environment

Three primary factors have influenced Iran's post 9/11 strategic posture:

- Increased US military involvement on two of Iran's immediate border regions:
Afghanistan and Iraq.
- growing international pressure over Iran's nuclear weapons efforts after
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- increasing domestic unrest over internal economic and political dissatisfaction.

The very fact, that all three of these phenomens have occured almost simultaneousely, has placed the Iranian regime under considerable stress, searching for ways to overcome internal and external threats to its survival. Furthermore, the growing presence of American military forces, could block Iran's political aspirations to become the leading military power in the post-Saddam Gulf region.

The rulers in Tehran fear, that they could become next on President Bush's target list, once the situation in Iraq stabilises sufficiently to enable determined action against what the president named "axis of evil", with Iran's Islamic fundamentalist regime now heading the list in the region.

Having waged a full scale war during the Eighties against Saddam Hussein's overwhelming military power, the Ayathollas closely followed the new American warfighting methods used in 1991 and 2003 against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, fully realising that, under the new strategic circumstances, only a determined effort to create a non-conventional national deterrent could save the Iranian regime from a similar fate. Indeed, one of the major lessons from Operation Desert Storm was that, should Saddam Hussein have deployed a substantial WMD threat in August 1990, it is doubtful wether a US contingency force deployment could have taken place without facing mortal danger. During the six months which Operation Desert Shield required in order to mass half a million troops in Saudi Arabia, all would have been within high-risk range of lethal weapons.

Thus the race for weapons of mass destruction is on in Tehran these days, not only to threaten Israel, the "little Satan", but actually save the Shi'ite revolutionary regime from extinction by the "big Satan", the United States and its allies.

There are three fields of WMD activities, chemical, biological and nuclear, in which Iran has been extremely busy over the last decade or so. Furthermore, impressive advances in the development of long range delivery platforms, have already placed Iran in the forefront of regional threats against its neighbours, including the US military deployment in the region.

The aim of this article is to examine Iran's biological weapons program.

The Background of Iran's Biological Warfare Program

Efforts to establish a biological weapons deterrent started in Iran during the mid-Eighties, after Saddam Hussein's forces fired 200 Scud missiles against targets in Tehran and other cities, causing a mass exodus from the Iranian capital, after rumours spread that some of the missiles carrying poison gas. In response, the clerical regime started its own chemical, bacteriological and radiological weapons program, clearly realising that only a determined effort in this field could avert a future disaster from occuring, once hostilities in the region would resume.

One of the first research facilities established in 1986 under the new program was the Tehran based Pasteur Institute, which started to work on the development of toxic fungus and microbiological substances. During its first stages, the center concentrated on producing aflatoxin, a potent natural mycotoxin produced by aspergillus flavus, which can be weaponised by certain biochemical procedures.
At the same time similar research was undertaken at the Vira Laboratory Shari'ati under Dr Gholamhossein Riazi.

A 1989 US intelligence report mentioned Iranian agents trying to buy two new strains of fungi, Fusarium from Canada and the Netherlands that can be used to produce T-2 mycotoxins. The Imam Reza Medical Center at Mashhad Medical Sciences University and the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology were ostensibly identified as the end users for this purchasing effort, "but more likely was that the true end user was an Iranian government agency specializing in biological warfare." Until the early nineties, Iran's bacteriological activities, were limited to scientific research, as well as initial studies in CB warfare. However, due to the extensive biological infrastructure, which existed in Iran already for decades, the way towards biological warfare was clear once a political decision was reached. This happened soon after Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when the Iranian leadership realised the rapid victory over Saddam Hussein's military might, by the US led coalition. The effect in Tehran was overwhelming. A far-reaching re-orientation of its own military capabilities resulted in a decision to develop weapons of mass destruction with chemical and biological weapons being in the immediate forefront of a large scale development program.

Willing help was not difficult to find in the early nineties. The former Soviet Union had disappeared as a global power, but its decade long efforts in development and production of WMD were well known to the unscupulous Ayathollas, their affluent reserves in Petrodollars presenting ideal attractions to thousands of unemployed Russian scientists looking for clients, appreciating their knowledge in weaponsing deadly toxins. Dr Kenneth Alibek ( aka Kanatjan Alibekov), a former chief scientist and first deputy director of Biopreparat a highly secret organisation established in Russia in 1973, defected in 1992 to the US. Ostensibly a state-owned pharmaceutical facility, Biopreparat developing drugs and vaccines, it was in fact was a front for the USSR's secret offensive bio weapons programme, employing thousands of skilled workers. According to Alibek, even the KGB maintained its own secret biological weapons research, codenamed Flayta, developing bacteriological toxin substances for its notorious Speznaz special forces, including cultivating the deadly Marburg virus into weaponised substance.

Other Russian defectors reports, released by the CIA and other western intelligence agencies, indicate that Soviet military biologists worked on the weaponisation of over 50 disease agents, testing some of these on Vozrozhdeniye Island in the Aral sea. Among the bacteria were highly effective toxic substances such as plague, tularemia and new classes of so-called "biolregulators", aimed to modify human emotions, heart rhythm patterns, affecting front line troops. Research was also carried out in genetic structure engineering, making known pathogens resistant to antibiotics.

These disciplines are of particular interest to third world rogue terrorist organisations, through its capability in destroying crops, affect humans etc. Sources claim, that leading Russian scientists have been approached by Iranian agents wishing to obtain the principles of genetic engineering in microbiology.
Some of this scientific knowledge and experience can be bought for hard cash.

Unconfirmed, but seemingly reliable information on this activity was provided by Iranian opposition groups indicating that a certain brigadier general Mohammed Fa'ezi is responsible with recruiting foreign scientists.

According to recently declassified intelligence reports, a suprise visit in 1997 to a former highly secret Soviet BW plant found a half-empty facility protected only by a handful of bored guards. No one knew where the scientists have gone. Some of them are believed already working in Iran. In January 1999, the Moscow daily Kommersant reported that in 1998 Anatoly Makarov director of the All-Russia Scientific Research Institute led a delegation to Tehran and gave the Iranians information related to the use of plant pathogens to destroy crops.

The London Sunday times reported in August 1995 that "by hiring Russian BW experts, Iran had made a "quantum leap forward" in its biological weapons development program. According to the New York Times, many of the contacts were made with former Biopreparat scientists through one Mehdi Rezayat, identified as key figure in a world wide Iranian aquisition network. An Iranian opposition group revealed earlier this year, that in 2001 Iran has begun a top secret biowarfare project, aiming to triple the size of its WMD arsenal, based on an ambitious document named " Comprehensive National Microbial Defense Plan", approved by the Supreme National Security Council.

According to latest intelligence reports, Iran has started production of weaponised anthrax spores, and is investigating efforts in other pathogens, including smallpox for its bioweapons arsenal. It is of interest, that Kenneth Alibek supervised the development of weapons grade smallpox during his tenure as scientific chief at Biopreparat, so that the knowhow would be still available for lucrative cross-border sales.

The Iranian BioWeapons Development Infrastructure Potential
Some of the most common agents that are associated with the Iranian BW program are Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), botulinum toxin, ricin, T-2 mycotoxin, and Variola virus and the causative agent of smallpox.
The many sophisticated research facilities in Iran could easily serve as a front for illicit BW-related activities and could offer a legitimate excuse to import dual-use material.

The Pasteur Institute
69 Pasteur Avenue Tehran
Located at the Iranian Science Center for Biotechnology and Molecular Biology.
Established in 1920 as a primary center for research of infectious desease and production of biological vaccines.The Biotechnology Department was formed in 1993 as a modern genetic engineering research institute.
According to intelligence reports, the Defence Ministry operates a secret experimental laboratory within the institute, studying toxic fungus, specialising in aflatoxin. A special MOD official supervises the work on biological agents.
Heading the institute is Dr Mortez Azartush, who denied 1999 reports that illegal activities are taking place at the Pasteur Institute.

The Vira Laboratory
Shari'ati Street Tehran
Also known under the name of Sina Industries it operates ostensibly focusing on agriculture and medical research, but actually its main function seems to be as the chemical laboratory of the Defence Ministry Special Industries Organisation. It functions as research center for testing and production of chemical and biological warfare-related substances. Several reports mention Vira having field tested biological agents on animals.
Heading the laboratories during the nineties was Dr Gholamhossein Riazi, a specialist in biological fermentation process.
His deputy, Dr Yousefi is now in charge.

Special Industries Organisation ( Ministry of Defence)
Gostaresh Research Center Tehran ( Zartosht Street?)
Formed in 1999 ( some reports mention an earlier date as 1993) to develop chemical weapons. The SIO supervises and coordinates various scientific programs, including biological research, with a special branch studying and developing biological weapon grade bacterial agents.
Intelligence reports, probably based on internal HUMINT indicate the location of a special facility related to SIO being camouflaged from sight along the Tehran-Karaj highway, known locally as Shahid Meysami Industry. Apparently this site also acts as storage depot for chemical (and biological?) artillery shells for the Revolutionary Guards units. Some years ago, rumours spread, that lax safety procedures caused severe health hazards to workers employed there.
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) website has published some interesting details on SIO activities in its Country Information on Iran:
"Two Swiss firms, Bio Engineering (a subsidiary of Bayer AG) and MBR Company, had been selling fermenters to Iran in the 1990s that were claimed to be entirely for civilian use. Company officials insisted that the Iranian purchasers were the Ministry of Agriculture and an entity they identified as MIDSPGIC Co. However, the People's Mujahadin of Iran claimed that MIDSPGIC is an abbreviation for the Special Industries Organization of the Defense Ministry. Bio Engineering was attacked two times in 1992, once at its office outside of Zurich (apparently by a terrorist group) and once at its Munich-based delivery company. Equipment destroyed in the attacks included a 15-liter lab fermenter and a 750 production fermenter, similar to those used by Iraq for its BW program." (NTI August 2003)

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Imam Hussein UniversityLocated in Tehran, the university complex houses extensive, but highly secret research departments led by scientists, members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Pasdaran. According to reports, this establishment focuses on weaponisation of several biological agents, including anthrax, smallpox, typhoid, plague and cholera bacteria. IRGC scientists also engage in weapons-related genetic engineering research at the Malek Ashtar University, Shahinshahr,based in the Lavizan Shian Technological Research Center and headed by Dr Maqsudi, who is in charge of the affiliated center for Scientific and Growth Technology. Dr Hossein San'ati heads this center and has been active in this field since the eighties. Jointly with Dr Mirza'i and Karami, the team became known as architects of the national microbial weapons research project.
Experiments have been taken place at the IRGC Imam University, testing of microbial bombs using anthrax, smallpox, typhoid fever, as well as high dosage aflatoxin.
The authorities have placed substantial effort in coordinating all these functions, by establishing a new department named Directorate to Asess Weapons of Mass Destruction, which also focuses on recruiting foreign WMD related advanced technologies in biochemistry. This diretorate also supervises activities in acquisition, training and supplying various special forces with bioweapon related technologies.
A special organisation in the Ministry of Defence is charged with Chemical, Biological and Nuclear industries to supervise all production activities, headed by Brigadier General Seyyedi.
Heading the new directorate is Brigadier General Nasser Toqyani, a senior IRGC commander. His superior is Major General Hassan Firouzabadi chairman of the Joint Command HQ of the IRGC. In charge of microbiological weapons development section is Brigadier General Abroumand.

Other Biological Facilities related to BioWeapons Program

Biological Research Center of SIO
located at Shahid Meisami Martyr Complex Special Karaj Highway
Revolutionary Guards Baqiyatolla Research Center
affiliated to the Guard's Baqiyatolla hospital works under Dr Karami, an experienced member of the IRGC Imam Hussein University scientific staff in the study and development of biological weapons.

Damghan Weapons Production Facility
located near a dry lake approximately 375 miles to the southwest of Mashad, or 300km east of Teheran.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Damghan is the site of a biological weapons research laboratory constructed with Russian assistance.

Other facilities who could be, or become related to the production of biochemical weapons grade material are widely dispersed in almost all major Iranian cities.
There are also numerous research institutions, in which various dual related biological studies could take place. Among the major "civilian" institutes are:
Biotechnology Research Center, Group of Fermentation and Biological Technology
No.71 Forsat St.,
Ferdowsi Square
Tehran

National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research
No. 15,
Abbas Shafiee Alley,
Quds St.,
Inqilah Ave.
Tehran

Sharif University of Technology
Biochemical and Bioenvironmental Research Center
Tehran

The Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB)
University of Tehran

Note

Most of the information for this part was supplied by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) early 2003.
There are conflicting attitudes over the reliabity of the NCRI reports, mainly due to the US State Department statement on August 15 naming the NCRI as affiliate to the Mujahidin-e-Khalq (MEK) terrorist organisation, which leaders of the NCRI denied vehemently.
As there is no concrete mechanism for verifying government reports or allegations from exile groups, so many of the allegations regarding the Iranian BW program remain unsubstantiated. However, according to reliable intelligence assessment sources, some of the NCRI reports have been verified by satellite and HUMINT, including their exposure on December 2002 revealing the Iranian secret uranium enrichment site at Natanz, which was verified by Dr Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The NTI website and GlobalSecurity, and other intelligence assessment agencies,
frequently quote NCRI sources in their news updates.