IN this climate of war and fear of terrorism on our streets, the news of foolish lunatics prepared to carry out ghastly and cowardly acts is horrifying.

Whatever their motivation and however they arrive at their plans, terrorism is terrorism and it is simply a misguided criminal thuggery dressed up as a political cause. This, as opposed to terrorism as a means of war, driven by a people's survival and desperation. Now that suspects are caught, let's lay the charges, bring them to trial and hand down justice.

Worse, the latest intelligence originating from the US indicates the use of poisons to be used in dirty bombs!

The news of the likely use of Osmium Tetroxide and the chemical believed to be at the centre of the latest alleged bomb plot and is conflicting as an obvious choice as it is unlikely to cause fatalities.

Add to that the sheer cost of the material and its properties makes it incompatible in a bomb.

Any terrorist determined on human carnage would resort to nerve gas or something of comparable magnitude in its effect.

The use of Osmium Tetroxide is limited as an industrial catalyst and in DNA identifications.

N MOMONIAT (address supplied).