Information for criminal justice practitioners, students and academics.

Allegations of Pinochet Biological Weapons (BW) Program Underscore Challenges of BW Control

 

“Evidence presented in May 2006 in a Chilean judicial proceeding alleges that the government of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet developed a secret biological weapons (BW) program. The evidence also alleges that a Chilean secret police operative used an unspecified lethal bacterial agent produced in that program to assassinate former Chilean president Eduardo Frei in January 1982 while he was in the hospital recovering from a hernia operation. Allegedly, the head of the Chilean BW program was later murdered to ensure that the assassination of Frei would remain secret. This story was reported in the Guardian of London May 18, 2006. The article states that evidence on the matter was presented by a number of retired ‘army generals and aides,’ who stated that the biological weapons program was run by General Pinochet’s secret police. The former military figures had requested the opportunity to present testimony regarding the ‘disappearance’ of Eugenio Berrios, the designer of the secret BW weapons program. The program, the article continued, produced anthrax and botulinum toxin, and also had a chemical weapon component that produced the nerve gas sarin. Berrios is also suspected of developing the bacterial agent that killed Frei.” (WMD Insights, Leonard S. Spector) http://wmdinsights.org/I6/I6_LA1_AllegationsOfPinochet.htm

 

Bold Bloomy [New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg] blows top: Speech rips gov’t over terror fund

 

“Mayor Bloomberg lambasted the federal government yesterday for shortchanging New York City on bioterrorism preparedness funding. In a major speech at a conference sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bloomberg boldly opened fire on the very people who had invited him, accusing the CDC of failing the city on a variety of fronts. ‘I really don't know how anyone can justify a distribution of bioterrorism funds that awards $8.20 per person to North Dakota when New York City gets less than $3 per person,’ said Bloomberg, who demanded a thorough overhaul of the CDC's method for allocating the funds.” (New York Daily News, 15Jun06, Michael Saul) http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/426813p-359980c.html

 

Kansas mumps outbreak allowed officials to prepare

 

“This year's mumps outbreak in Kansas has allowed health officials to prepare for a more serious emergency, state and local agencies say. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said as of Monday, the state had 761 confirmed and probable cases in 68 counties. Overall, cases in the state have started to decline in recent weeks, department spokeswoman Sharon Watson said, but she's not sure why. Watson said the outbreak has allowed the department to use its federally mandated incident command structure to relay information to different government agencies in Kansas. It was the first time the state has implemented the structure, which would be used during a flu pandemic or bioterrorism attack, she said.” (The Kansas City Star, 15Jun06, AP) http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/14826746.htm

 

 

Georgia university chief says school prepared for bio-defense lab

 

“The University of Georgia is ‘academically prepared’ to house a new national bio-defense lab, university president Michael Adams said Thursday. The university is opening a $63 million animal health research facility that could help attract the project, he said. Adams made the remarks as university officials were preparing to take news reporters on a tour of the new 75,000-square-foot research facility. The building at the University of Georgia is one of just a few in the world that rank at Biosafety Level 3 for both large and small agricultural animals, meaning it is open to only certified scientists. Just six researchers will be able to enter the highest-level labs in building, areas that are locked with multiple layers of fingerprint-scanning security systems and airtight doors.” (Biloxi Sun Herald; 15Jun06; Dorie Turner, AP) http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/14826504.htm

 

 

Israel police probe envelopes for anthrax

 

 “Israeli police said on Thursday they were testing for anthrax two envelopes that had been filled with powder and sent to the Israeli central bank and the Tel Aviv office of Army Radio. ‘Both were taken for tests,’ said police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld, adding results would be available in 48 hours. ‘We're waiting for the result and no one is jumping to those conclusions (that it is anthrax) at this moment but all necessary precautions are being taken.’ A central bank spokeswoman said the envelope received on Thursday was addressed to Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer but never left the mail room in Jerusalem.” (Reuters India, 15Jun06)

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-06-15T183844Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-254893-1.xml&archived=False

 

 

New Non-Invasive Vaccine Strategy May Offer Protection Against Tetanus and Anthrax

 

“A new vaccine strategy using genetically engineered bacteria topically applied to the skin elicits an immune response to both tetanus and anthrax in animals say researchers from Vaxin Inc., Birmingham, Alabama. They report their findings in the June 2006 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity. The new vaccine strategy described in this study consists of a topically applied vaccine containing live Escherichia coli bacteria that are genetically engineered to produce proteins associated with the bacteria that cause anthrax and tetanus. These compounds can be administered by nonmedical personnel. Past studies have shown the outer layer of the skin to be more immunocompetent than deep tissue and experts believe that self-applied painless vaccines will further increase the compliance rate.” (EurekAlert, 14Jun06, Tips from the journals of the American Society for Microbiology) http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-06/asfm-tft061406.php

 

Depot to need 900 workers in next four years

 

“Approximately 900 employees will be needed by 2010 to handle operations of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant and Chris Haynes, project manager with Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, will begin his employee search within Madison County [Kentucky] Middle Schools. The project will call for approximately 48 control room operators, 80 munitions handlers, 100 hazardous materials technicians, 30 instrumentation and controls technicians, 15 electrical technicians, 50 mechanical technicians, 35 lab analysts, 70 lab monitors, 15 technical support specialists, 50 administration/clerical staffers, 28 inventory control specialists, 110 business professionals, 150 technical professionals and 50 line supervisors.” (Richmond Register, 15Jun06, Ronica Shannon) http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_166080728.html?keyword=secondarystory

 

 

Explosive Destructive System begins mission at Pine Bluff Arsenal

 

“The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency Non- Stockpile Chemical Materiel Project (NSCMP) began a new mission Tuesday to destroy recovered chemical warfare items stored here. NSCMP will use its transportable Explosive Destruction System, or EDS, to destroy the munitions, many of which were recovered during environmental remediation projects in the 1980s. The items are not part of the arsenal’s chemical weapons stockpile, which also is undergoing destruction. Designed for the safety of its operators and the environment, the EDS enables operators to seal items inside a stainless steel containment vessel, where an explosive charge opens the munitions allowing accesses to the chemical fill. The fill is then neutralized within the vessel by adding a reagent. The EDS provides complete blast, vapor and fragment containment.” (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency, 14Jun06, Media Release)

http://www.cma.army.mil/docviewerframe.aspx?docid=003675616

 

Court finds 25 guilty of terror plot in France

 

“A court on Wednesday convicted 25 people for their roles in preparing a terror attack in France in support of Islamic fighters in Chechnya. The five top defendants each received prison terms of 8 to 10 years, while the others received lesser sentences. Two were acquitted. All but one defendant had been accused of helping Islamic fighters in Chechnya in what prosecutors said underscored the ‘globalization of the jihad movement.’ However, prosecutors were unable to prove the attack was to have involved chemicals, although investigators found equipment and chemicals, including the highly toxic ricin.” (Chicago Tribune; 15Jun06; Verena von Derschau, AP)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0606150171jun15,1,1392311.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

 

Preparing for the worst: Crews, depot test preparedness during drill

 

“As smoke poured from an X-ray building at Letterkenny Army Depot Wednesday, people stood on the grass outside calling for help. They were participating in an exercise by the depot in conjunction with local emergency crews to test their preparedness for a terrorist attack. Mark Schatte, physical security officer, explained the premise of this particular exercise. ‘A contractor came in to give instructions on how to use the X-ray machine and he left a package,’ he said. The package contained a bomb, which after it exploded in the X-ray building, caused radiation to be released, a scenario much like the detonation of a radiological dispersion bomb, or ‘dirty bomb.’ Ten ambulances, two medical units and two fire squads, in addition to Letterkenny fire and police units, participated in the exercise.” (Chambersburg Public Opinion, 14Jun06, Marcus Rauhut)

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_3938092

 

India signs convention to combat nuclear terrorism

 

“India has acceded to the International Convention for Suppression Of Acts Of Nuclear Terrorism, with the cabinet Friday giving its approval for signing and ratifying it.

‘It is the first terrorism convention adopted since the terrorist attacks of Sep 11, 2001, in New York,’ Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The convention was opened for signature at the UN headquarters in New York from Sep 14, 2005, and will remain open up to Dec 31, 2006. The UN General Assembly adopted it April 13, 2005. Within the meaning of the convention, any person commits an offence if that person possesses radioactive material or makes or possesses a device with an intent to cause death or serious bodily injury or substantial damage to property or to the environment.” (India eNews.com, 16Jun06) http://indiaenews.com/2006-06/11649-india-signs-convention-combat-nuclear-terrorism.htm

 

U.S. Emergency Services Are Unprepared for Crises, Reports Find: Hospitals and response units lack coordination, supplies and staff to deal with major disasters

 

“U.S. emergency rooms are understaffed, overwhelmed and unable to cope with a crisis, whether a pandemic, attack or natural disaster, according to reports released Wednesday. Americans rely heavily on emergency departments and emergency medical services to save their lives when sudden illness or disaster strikes, yet these services are not properly funded and often do not live up to expectations, the reports from the independent Institute of Medicine found. ‘We are definitely not prepared for the onslaught we would receive today in the event of an emergency [such as] a hurricane, bioterrorist attack … or a pandemic,’ Dr. Brent Eastman, the chief medical officer of Scripps Health in San Diego, said during a news conference. ‘We hope that this report will astonish the nation.’” (Los Angeles Times, 15Jun06, Reuters) http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-emergency15jun15,1,5193799.story?coll=la-headlines-nation-a05e-e532f7fb33a7.html&ctrack=1&cset=true

Zarqawi hoped to widen Iran-US rift: Iraq

 

“Al-Qaeda in Iraq planned to widen the rift between the United States and Iran with kidnappings and assassinations against US interests falsely attributed to Iran, the Iraqi government said on Thursday. Citing documents found in the Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's bombed safe house following his death in a US air strike, the prime minister's office issued a statement outlining Zarqawi's ‘plan of death and destruction’.

The documents suggesting fomenting discord between the nations by carrying out kidnappings and attacks on US targets in Iraq and publicly attributing them to the Iranians. The group also planned to carry out terrorist attacks in the West and then leave evidence at the sites implicating the Iranians. Zarqawi's organization was also going to spread information that Iran had weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons.” (HindustanTimes.com, 15Jun06, Agence France-Presse) http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1720689,00050004.htm

 

U.S., Russia reach deal in securing Soviet WMD

 

“U.S. and Russian officials have agreed on terms for a seven-year extension of programs that provide U.S. money and expertise to secure and destroy Soviet-era caches of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The agreement resolves legal disputes that threatened to derail the programs, which send hundreds of millions of dollars a year to Russia for ‘cooperative threat reduction’ efforts. It will be signed by week's end, according to Frederick Jones, a spokesman for President Bush's National Security Council. ‘The agreement ensures that critical cooperation with Russia continues to combat the proliferation threat posed by large quantities of Soviet legacy weapons of mass destruction and missile(s),’ Jones says.” (USA Today, 15Jun06, Peter Eisler) http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-06-15-soviet-wmd_x.htm