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What Is Bioterrorism? Bioterrorism is an intentional release of biological agents in order to spread panic, death and destruction The agents employed in bioterrorism can be bacteria, viruses, toxins or even genetically-modified organisms. Commonly used agents are anthrax, ricin, botulinum toxin and smallpox virus which can cause severe outbreaks and casualties. Bioterrorism is the most serious form of terrorism, because these agents can spread quickly, causing widespread infection and panic. As opposed to traditional forms of terrorism which are limited geographically, bioterrorism can have a global reach, as diseases can be transferred from person to person and from region to region. The primary purpose of bioterrorism is to spread fear and terrorize the population. It can be used to punish or coerce governments or to force them to comply to the attackers’ demands. It can also be used to further the terrorist group’s political, religious or ideological agenda. The use of bioterrorism is an act of war and is thus illegal under international law. The first use of bioterrorism dates back to 1763, when the British Army infected blankets with smallpox and gave it to Native American tribes. Examples of Bioterrorism Activity 1. 2001 Anthrax Attacks: The 2001 anthrax attacks were a series of bioterrorist attacks in the United States. Letters containing anthrax were sent to news media offices and two U.S. Senators. The letters were signed by an unknown person or group calling themselves “the Fellowship of the Pious”. The attack resulted in 22 people reported to have contracted anthrax, of whom 5 died. 2. Sarin Gas Attack on the Tokyo Subway: On 20 March 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway system. The attack resulted in 13 deaths and thousands of injuries. The group was led by Shoko Asahara, a self-proclaimed guru who had predicted an apocalypse. 3. 1960s Smallpox Attack in India: In the 1960s, India suffered a series of outbreaks of smallpox. It later emerged that the outbreaks were caused by the intentional release of the virus by Chinese agents. The attack resulted in thousands of deaths, but the true number of casualties is unknown. 4. 1975 Botulinum Toxin Attack in Stockholm: In 1975, a Swedish paramilitary group called the “Armed Revolutionary Left” released botulinum toxin in several supermarkets in Stockholm, resulting in one death and numerous illnesses. The group had declared war on the Swedish government for not supporting the workers’ rights. 5. 2001 Attempted Ricin Attack in the UK: In 2001, a group of British individuals attempted to produce and distribute ricin, a toxin derived from castor beans, in the UK. The individuals were arrested and found guilty of producing a biological weapon and received sentences of up to 15 years.