Bioterrorism: An analysis of biological agents used in terrorist events

Abstract

Background The Covid19 pandemic has reignited debates and discussions around healthcare systems' biosecurity vulnerabilities and cast a spotlight on the potential weaponization of biological agents. Terrorist and violent extremist groups have already attempted to incite the intentional spread of Covid19 and to use it as an improvised form of a biological weapon. This study aims to provide an epidemiological description of all terrorism-related attacks using biological agents sustained between 1970 and 2019. Methods Data collection was performed using a retrospective database search through the Global Terrorism Database (GTD). The GTD was searched using the internal database search functions for all events using biological weapons between January 1, 1970 - December 31, 2019. Results 33 terrorist attacks involving biological agents were recorded between 1970 and 2019, registering 9 deaths and 806 injuries. 21 events occurred in the United States, 3 in Kenya, 2 each in both the United Kingdom and Pakistan and a single event in Japan, Columbia, Israel, Russia and Tunisia. Conclusion The reported use of biological agents as a terrorist weapon is extremely rare and accounts for 0.02% of all historic terrorist attacks. Despite its apparent rarity, however, bioterrorism has the ability to inflict mass injuries unmatched by conventional weapons. Anthrax has been the most commonly used in previous bioterrorism events with the vast majority of reported attacks occurring in the United States by a single suspected perpetrator. Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM) and Disaster Medicine (DM) specialists need to be proactive in delivering ongoing educational sessions on biological events to first responder communities, and anticipate emerging novel biotechnology threats.

Democratization of terrorism: an analysis of vehicle-based terrorist events

“…This study follows the methodology suggested by Tin et al in their analysis of biological agents used in terrorist events. 3 The research leverages the open source, retrospective database, the Global Terrorism Database, created by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. 4 The online, public database includes information on domestic and international terrorist attacks from 1970 to 2019.…”

“…The system excludes any ambiguous events which occur after 1997 and provide some uncertainty as to whether they meet database criteria for inclusion. 4 Additionally, the database does not include state acts of terrorism and defines terrorist attacks as ‘the threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation.’ 3 …”

A Descriptive Analysis of the Use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Weapons by Violent Non-State Actors and the Modern-Day Environment of Threat

“…26 With advances in biotechnologies and the commercialization of home Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) kits, the plausibility of homemade bioweapons is becoming more likely. 5 In addition, with drones and other technologies such as nanorobots and biologically modified insect vectors, the dispersion of biological agents becomes more possible, potentially deadlier, and "limitless." 27 The combination of genomic technologies with AI, machine learning, automation, affective computing, and robotics will potentially increase the lethality of "old world biologicals" while creating newer and more deadly agents.…”

“…1,2 Deadly chemicals are readily available in the industrial sector and home-made bioweapons are increasingly plausible as biotechnologies advance. [3][4][5] In addition, the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) looms as a tool to create innovative chemical weapons that might not otherwise have been conceived of. 6 Further, radiation sources used commonly in the medical sector are vulnerable to theft and modifications and then used to create dirty bombs, and nuclear plants are vulnerable to both cyber hacks and physical damage, which could lead to meltdowns and wide-spread human, structural, and environmental devastation.…”

Trauma-toxicology: concepts, causes, complications

“…It encompasses physical injuries, burns, as well as exposure to chemical, biological, or radiological/nuclear (CBRN) warfare agents. While bioterrorism and B-warfare—so far known—predominantly involve agents such as viruses, bacteria, and bacterial toxins (Botulinum Neurotoxin (Kreyden et al 2000 ), Anthrax toxin) as well as plant toxins (Ricin) (Tin et al 2022 ), the arsenal of chemical warfare agents is extensive (Wille et al 2011 ) and comprises toxic substances that affect the skin, the lungs, or the nervous system. The latter comprises organophosphates such as tabun, sarin, VX, and the Novichok compounds, which can cause a severe, life-threatening cholinergic syndrome, as described in more detail later.…”