Chemical Expert Testifies in Jordan Trial

[ECH1969]

AMMAN, Jordan -- Islamic militants planned to detonate an explosion that would have sent a cloud of toxic chemicals across Jordan, causing death, blindness and sickness, a chemical expert testified in a military court Wednesday.

Col. Najeh al-Azam was giving evidence in the trial of 13 men who are alleged to have planned what would have been the world's first chemical attack by the al-Qaida terror group. The accused include al-Qaida's leader in Iraq, Abu-Musab Al-Zarqawi, and three other fugitives who are being tried in absentia.

Jordanian security services foiled the plot in April last year. Jordanian officials say that had it been carried out, thousands of people would have died.

Azam, a chemical expert at Jordan's General Intelligence Department, testified that a large quantity of plastic containers seized from the defendants contained hydrogen peroxide. He said the accused planned to add "ground black cumin" to the concentrated solution, which would have made "an explosive substance stronger than TNT."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-jordan-terrorism,1,2611671.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[Igel]

1. OK, I've heard of curries being described as 'hot', but

'explosive'?

Nigella sativa? (black curry) Explosive?

[daleo]

2. So, is it an explosive or a chemical weapon?

"would have sent a cloud of toxic chemicals across Jordan...an explosive substance stronger than TNT."

Hydrogen peroxide isn't exactly difficult to obtain.