Pakistan link to UK ‘chemical attack plot’

Security services have under-estimated plans of chemical attacks in Europe by terrorists who are in contact with extremists in Pakistan, according to a senior French counter-terrorism official. ‘‘We have under-estimated the terrorists’ willingness and capacity to develop chemical arms,’’ the official was quoted as saying by London daily Financial Times. ‘‘The alleged plotters have been in contact with extremists in Pakistan, as the plot was discovered when their phone calls were monitored by GCHQ,’’ he said. ‘‘The Pakistani element was also totally under-estimated…,’’ he said.

He said militants within the LeT, which has close links with Al Qaeda, had helped develop chemical arms skills, now dispersed to several parts of the Al Qaeda. ‘‘There are links between the groups that have chemical expertise. Chechnya is where they learned the skill,’’ he said. — (PTI)