Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons

“In 1995, the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo unleashed terror on the Tokyo subway system with a highly publicized sarin gas attack. However, less is known about the group’s development of biological and chemical weapons and about their prior attacks using these weapons. The CNAS report, Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons, culminates a multi-year project…”

Author:
Richard J. Danzig, Marc Sageman, Terrance Leighton, Lloyd Hough, Hidemi Yuki, Rui Kotani, & Zachary M. Hosford
Publish Date:
July 20, 2011

Biowarfare, Bioterrorism, and Animal Diseases as Bioweapon

“This chapter highlights the wildlife component of the pathogen-host-environment triad to focus attention on the potential for bioterrorists to use wildlife as a means for infectious disease attacks against society. The value of this focus is that the underlying causes of disease emergence and the optimal prevention or control response frequently differ for disease emergence, resurgence, and deliberately emerging diseases. Differences also exist relative to the potential importance of wildlife as a component of biowarfare and as a component of bioterrorism activities.”

Author:
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Publish Date:
2006

Review of Risk Assessment Work Plan for the Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation Facility at Fort Detrick: A Letter Report

At the U.S. Army’s request the National Research Council (NRC) established the Committee to Review Risk Assessment Approaches for the Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation (MCMT&E) facility at Fort Detrick, in Frederick, Maryland. The committee was charged with reviewing a proposed approach to preparing a risk assessment for the new biocontainment laboratory at the base. Review of Risk Assessment Work Plan for the Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation Facility is the second letter report on the Army contractor’s proposed work plan for conducting the risk assessment.

Author:
Committee on Risk Assessment of the Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation (MCMT&E) Facility at Fort Detrick, Maryland; National Research Council
Publish Date:
2011

1990 Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program Annual Report to Congress

“The Department of the Army manages DoD’s chemical warfare and biological defense research programs. To assist the Congress in its oversight role, DOD is required to prepare different reports on the subject. This report discusses three DOD reporting documents for chemical warfare and biological defense research programs and suggests ways to improve reporting.”

Author:
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Publish Date:
1990

2000 Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program Annual Report to Congress

“The national Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal year 1994, Public Law. 103-160, Section 1703 (50 USC 1522), mandates the coordination and integration of all Department of Defense chemical and biological (CB) defense programs. As part of this coordination and integration, the Secretary of Defense is directed to submit an assessment and a description of plans to improve readiness to survive, fight and win in a nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contaminated environment. This report contains modernization plan summaries that highlight the Departments approach to improve current NBC defense equipment and resolve current shortcomings in the program. During the past year, DoD took several steps to ensure the protection of U.S. forces against both immediate and future chemical and biological threats. This report details DoDs’ current and planned capabilities. Highlights from the past year include continuing immunization of all U.S. forces with the licensed anthrax vaccine, and continued enhancement of DoD CBDP funds to protect against validated and emerging threats through the far-term future.”

Author:
U.S. Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program (DoD CBDP)
Publish Date:
2000