The looming threat of Bioterrorism in the wake of Coronavirus

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is said to have been the handiwork of the Chinese. Even though this belief lacks evidence, it does not keep governments from blaming each other. The rise of coronavirus has also induced a new fear among the population- the possible threat of a bioweapon. The notion of a country wielding a weapon of mass destruction can be daunting, but the thought of transnational organized criminal groups gaining access to such deadly weapons can be even more frightening, and this is a very likely possibility. Biological weapons are dubbed as ‘poor man’s atomic bomb’. Hence it will not be surprising if terrorists are inspired by the current rise of the pandemic, and were to implement similar strategies in the future. Considering scientific developments and the increasing use of non-conventional forms of violence by extremist groups, bioterrorism becomes a matter of concern.

History of Bioterrorism 

           The past is riddled with instances of how the propagation of radicalized ideas, when met with a deadly weapon of violence, is capable of causing immense damage. One such instance is the gas attacks that took place on the Tokyo subway in 1995. On March 20, 1995, the Aum Shinrikyo cult left bags of leaking Sarin gas, a deadly nerve agent, on multiple subways. This incident killed many and injured thousands. This attack went down in history as one of the first instances where an extremist group had made use of a biological agent.

           In 2001, a week after the 9/11 attacks occurred, letters laced with anthrax were sent to multiple media houses as well as two US senators. Apart from containing the contagion it also carried a message that read ‘Allah is great’. Many thought that the 9/11 attacks were connected to the anthrax letters as well, but eventually this notion was dropped.

           These two cases are a clear representation of the fact that extremist groups can get hold of deadly biological and chemical weapons, and develop them in secrecy. In 1972, most nations signed the Biological Weapons Convention. This ensured that nations would collectively provide annual reports on their research regarding CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) technologies, thereby creating a certain degree of accountability. However, this left out the non-state actors and other such transnational groups. Meaning that they would not be obliged to any particular party with regards to developing new technologies and even executing them on local populations.

Bioweapons and Terrorism

           In 2014, ISIS made use of chemical weapons during its annexation of Mosul. Iraqi scientist and former government employee Suleiman al-Afari is said to have been recruited for producing these weapons. He managed to gain access to a mustard gas production line which would be functional for 15 months. If the Islamic State can make use of chemical weapons on civilians, it won't be surprising in the future if biological weapons were implemented in a similar fashion. In fact, these organizations are not lagging behind in their pursuit for obtaining and developing bioweapons. In 2014, a laptop belonging to a member of the Islamic State was found containing detailed instructions on how to create a biological weapon. In June of 2018, a Tunisian man residing in Germany was found in possession of toxic substances and bomb making material. The toxic substance turned out to be Ricin, a lethal chemical synthesized from castor beans. On further investigation, it was revealed that the man and his wife were followers of the Islamic State and after failing to travel to Syria, they began developing bioweapons in order to extend their support.

           Terrorist organizations can easily get their hands on biological weapons and also have means to develop them. Both the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda exert a massive influence on social media. Technology has made it easier for these institutions to recruit more followers and expand their propaganda. Many scientists and qualified individuals are introduced to such radical ideologies over the internet, and are inspired to use their knowledge for the same. Apart from simply acting as a tool for networking, the internet also harbors illegal trade. The dark web serves as a bazaar for anything from the trade of lethal weapons to harmful strains of viruses. With such materials being easily available the only concern that remains is funding.

           Development of bioweapons requires huge amounts of capital and infrastructure. Terrorist organizations have world wide funding and other illegal activities that support such activities provide massive revenues. If judiciously used, these funds can be directed to the research and development of bioweapons. Some intelligence sources have also suggested that during the Islamic State’s occupation of Mosul, government laboratories were being used to develop such technologies. Even though information regarding weapons of mass destruction under terrorist organizations remains scarce, it is a grave matter of concern and requires better intelligence sources to monitor such activities.

Coronavirus and Bioweapons

           The coronavirus pandemic has created a great sense of panic among the population. This chaos stems from an innate fear for the safety of one's life and their loved ones. However, terrorist organizations seem to be banking on this sense of anxiety. Terror groups worldwide are propagating extremist ideologies in the wake of the pandemic, and in some cases seem to be inspired by it too.

           The Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups are taking advantage of the governments diverted attention. As most nation- states are busy dealing with the health crises, terrorist organizations are actively trying to regain their lost territories. On March 19, Turkish troops were attacked near Mount Zawiya on the M4 Highway in Idlib, Syria. These attacks were allegedly carried out by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or Huras ad-Din militants. Similarly on March 22, Boko Haram carried out an attack in Chad, which killed 92 military personnel. Since then many such attacks have been carried out across the globe. The Islamic State has made its intentions clear about setting its supporters free from the camps in Iraq and Syria. The increased activity of terrorist groups in the African region can be compared to the times when Ebola was spread. Even though it was considered as a bioweapon, no definitive evidence was found regarding the matter. However, this did not stop terror groups like Boko Haram from taking advantage of the situation and continuing their violence.

           As if attacks were not enough, jihadi extremists are twisting the coronavirus narrative and giving it a religious outlook. The Islamic State dubs the pandemic as ‘the crusaders worst nightmare’. While Al-Qaeda calls it ‘god's punishment to the Chinese for its treatment of Uighur Muslims’. These powerful portrayals of the pandemic, is also seen as a means for the organizations to recruit more soldiers. The propagation of jihad in these testing times can have greater reception from the audience. By arousing apocalyptic sentiments among religious Muslims, it is inspiring them to participate in atrocities.

           Coronavirus has also given birth to a new narrative that the terrorist organizations intend to use covertly. COVID-19, which terror groups also have been calling ‘the smallest soldier against the West’, might be creating its own soldiers who spread the disease. Baghat Saber, an Egyptian Muslim brotherhood activist, uploaded on his Facebook page on 1st March, 2020 that, every infected person should pass on the infection to at least one Egyptian soldier, policeman or official. This sheds light on the stealthy way in which these institutions choose to spread the danger. By using humans as biological weapons and carriers of the disease, these organizations intend to spread the virus in order to achieve their goals. According to MEMRI, a jihad and terrorism threat monitor, reported that a Syrian jihadi commander, Al-Asif 'Abd Al-Rahman, announced that Iran could be using its infected patients as biological weapons against Syrian jihadi factions. He speculated that Iran could be convincing its patients that they should die as martyrs instead of simply dying in vain. This strategy can be highly dangerous for local civilians and might create an extremely tricky situation for government officials in terms of tracking the source of the disease.

           Taking into account the past instances where extremists were caught with information regarding development of bio weapons, it is likely that they might continue working on the same. Even though terror groups are exploiting the current pandemic to the fullest, they also bear in mind their own safety. The biggest risk with respect to bioweapons lies in the fact that a slight mistake could cause damage to oneself. ISIS has issued orders to its soldiers to stay clear of the European continent which is largely affected by the virus. This means that the so called soldiers of Islam too fear contracting the disease.

           However, one more incentive for terrorist organizations to use bio weapons would be to create a psychological impact. Immunity can be developed for a disease, but fear does not come with an immunity. By making use of biological weapons, terrorist groups will be playing on this factor. By directly harming the citizens, it would greatly damage the socio- economic structure of any nation, as governments would be split between countering terrorism and tending to the affected. This would be a way to destabilize governments so that these institutions can set up the Caliphate.

Conclusion

           With the rise of coronavirus, the debate surrounding the threat of biological warfare has been brought into the limelight again. The potential danger of this kind of weapon of destruction clubbed with terrorism needs to be given more attention. ISIS and al-Qaeda have been working on developing these weapons since the 1990’s. So far, given the technological advances and their ability to influence and recruit scientists and engineers it will not be surprising if they have gained access to such equipment’s. The mere thought of terror groups using these weapons on civilians is chilling. However, as most intelligence sources have not paid the required attention to these possibilities, information remains scarce.

Terror groups have successfully created their domain in cyberspace. This vantage point alone can impact their research capabilities. The Tunisian couple who were found with Ricin bombs conducted most of their research online. Given that instructions for creating such deadly weapons can be easily found on the internet, increases the possibility of such attacks exponentially. And the easy availability of traditional toxins also aids the process. Lone wolf attacks on a smaller scale can be carried out in such a manner.

Bearing in mind such prospects, government administrations and security forces worldwide are vulnerable and need to bolster their defenses. There is a need for better intelligence forces in order to counter such bioterrorist moves. The coronavirus pandemic has been an eye opener regarding bioterrorism and the threat of the use of biological weapons, but the looming probability of the execution of such technology still remains.

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