Thursday, November 3 2005 13:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Asserting that the July 7 suicide bombings were not the worst attacks that could be expected, a former head of British intelligence has said chemical, biological and genetic terrorism was 'in prospect' and a nuclear attack could not be ruled out in the UK.

Richard Dearlove, who retired last year as head of the secret intelligence service M16, said the July 7 bombings that killed 52 London commuters did not amount to a 'strategic terrorist event', a media report today (Nov 03, 2005) said.

The July attacks "bore the characteristic of a locally planned and carried-out event." Dearlove, who was talking part in a debate on terrorism arranged by London law firm Ashurst, said chemical, biological and genetic terrorism was in prospect and nuclear attack could not be ruled out.

However, we probably had to conclude that "the clock is running on some much more dreadful events that could occur," sources quoted him as saying.

In the medium to long term, terrorists would have access through the Internet to "some quite frightening dual-use technologies," he said.

Though these had not yet been used in the context of terrorism, Richard thought they could eventually be used.

"There is no question that bits of al-Qaeda would have been extremely interested in biological weapons technology, radiological devices and, ultimately, nuclear devices."