Scotsman reports al-Qaeda elements siding with the rebels in Syria could gain access to the regime’s stockpiles of chemical weapons with potentially “catastrophic” consequences, UK spy chiefs warn.
The parliamentary intelligence and security committee, which oversees the work of the intelligence agencies, said extremist elements in Syria were assessed to represent “the most worrying terrorist threat” to the UK and its allies, adds Scotsman.
In its annual report, the committee had “serious concern” about the security of the “vast stockpiles” of chemical weapons amassed by president Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Scotsman notes They are thought to include sarin, ricin, mustard gas and VX.