Beijing maybe under threat from more than pollution
BBC Essex radio news reported this morning that a UN body had warned of a possible ‘dirty bomb’ attack on the Beijing Olympics. However since that broadcast there has been few other reports of this item. A trawl of the internet only finds a few references to this new risk specifically targeting China and the Beijing Olympics. There are a number of terrorist groups that may wish to disrupt the Olympic games in August, but it is perhaps groups aligned with al-Qaeda that might prove to be the strongest threat. Earlier this year Chinese authorities announced they had broken up terror cells and thwarted potential attacks aimed at crashing a plane into an Olympic site. There are some who have questioned the veracity of China’s claims and accuse authorities of using the perceived threat to target Muslim minority groups. In the last few days further restrictions have been put in placed. Xinhua reported earlier this month that authorities had “revised rules, based on a regulation implemented in 2004, added new regulations banning dangerous items, including explosives, poisonous and radioactive material” and more recently said that medical personnel and experts had been trained to deal with exposure to radioactivity, pathogens and poisonous chemicals [Xinhua].
This release of radioactive substances into a large crowd would pose a serious threat to health. But obtaining material construct a radiological dispersal device may prove difficult, especially in a country such as China. In the UK, which has already been hit by terrorist attacks, there is already concern that al-Qaeda wish to hit London with such devices. Some radioactive substances are relatively easy to obtain. Depleted Uranium is commonly used in pipe inspection equipment. Radioactive isotopes can be found in smoke detectors and medical equipment but the logistics of collecting enough material to pose a serious threat would be difficult. Cobalt-60 is widely used in the US to irradiate food but dispersal would be difficult [The Guardian]. But while there has been no specific threat to Beijing, the IAEA says there are groups that want to hit the games [Daily Telegraph]. The reports from the International Atomic Energy Authority could be seen as scare-mongering. The IAEA warning may also be seen as encouraging others to stay away from the Beijing games. But even if not intended as being malicious, the warning only adds to the fear that is felt by potential visitors to the August games.
If the propaganda machine in the West is to be believed, visitors may suffer from appalling pollution, dangerous food and the risk of being caught up in a terrorist attack. The pollution is real, but many cities in the West offer similar conditions of poor air quality. As regards the food, besides the scare stories, most people do not succumb to food poisoning. And the terror threat, while it should not be ignored, is no different from that of many other countries. China has yet to be targeted by Islamic terrorists, although authorities say there are plots and outside infiltrators. The threat in Europe, the US and other parts of the world is far more real with Islamic terrorists having hit Western targets in New York, London, Madrid, Morocco, Turkey and Pakistan. China has yet to see such outrages experienced here in the West. Hopefully it never will and the doom-mongers will be proved wrong.
2 comments:
You said "it is perhaps groups aligned with al-Qaeda that might prove to be the strongest threat"
Why?
Al-Qaeda, as a terrorist 'organisation', have shown how indiscriminate and brutal they can be in their war against the 'infidels'. If the terror group were to have alignedthemselves with Muslim groups in China and set to target the Olympics the outcome could be far more catastrophic than previous terrorist attacks at Olympic events. The Munich games was targeted many years ago against Israeli athletes, and a lone bomber struck at the Atlanta Olympics. The threat posed by al-Qaeda is much greater as seen in the countless attacks perpetrated over the last 10 years. Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region, where 8.5 million Muslims make up most of the population, is according to Chinese authorities, as breeding ground for terrorism. Authorities have attempted up break up groups it says are involved in terrorist plots. One camp in Akto county, was run by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). It is listed as a terrorist group by the US. China blames the East Turkestan Islamic Movement for more than 200 terror attacks between 1990 and 2001, causing 160 deaths and 440 injuries. According to Neil Fergus who was a security consultant during the games in Sydney and Athens, al-Qaeda poses a serious risk to the Beijing games. “We've known for some time that al-Qaeda and its surrogate groups have been interested in targeting the Olympics... the reality is, they find that Olympic principles, the bringing together of different cultures, races, creeds in this type of events, something anathema to them, with their doomsday philosophies.” He says Chinese authorities are aware of the threat and are attempting to thwart potential plots. “There is a group called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, or ETIM, it's a terrorist entity based in China, or largely based in China, because its roots are in the Uyghur population in the Xinjiang region. There are over a 100 members of ETIM that were trained by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, prior to the invasion of Afghanistan. So there is no question about the links. The links are very strong.” he said in an interview with Australia’s ABC network.
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