In a significant counter-terrorism success, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has foiled a sinister plan to produce ricin, a highly toxic substance. The operation led to the arrest of three men, one of whom is identified as a doctor with a Chinese medical background, suspected of being central to the ricin manufacturing scheme. This alarming discovery brings to the forefront past instances of ricin being used in threats against former US Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Fortunately, all those past threats were intercepted before they could cause harm. Ricin, extracted from castor beans, is a notoriously dangerous toxin with no antidote, and its presence on Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention signifies its extreme danger. Security agencies are now working to understand the full extent of this operation, including the sourcing of materials and potential targets. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by bioterrorism and the imperative for heightened vigilance in biological security.
