Deadly poison found
The week's news at a glance.
London
British police arrested six men of North African origin in connection with the possession of ricin, an extremely toxic poison. Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist branch said trace amounts of the poison, which is made from castor beans and causes severe, fatal diarrhea, were found in the men’s London apartment. Ricin is one of several biological agents that al Qaida is believed to have experimented with; it has no known antidote. The poison was found at al Qaida sites in Afghanistan as well as in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, at bases of the Islamic extremist group Ansar al-Islam. Prime Minister Tony Blair said the arrests show that the danger of terrorism “is present and real and with us now, and its potential is huge.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The struggles of Aston Martin
In the Spotlight The car manufacturer, famous for its association with the James Bond franchise, is ‘running out of road’
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Grecotel Luxme Dama Dama: Greek luxury with a breezy beach vibe
The Week Recommends Rhodes is reimagined in this refined and relaxed resort