al-Qaida after WMDs claim officials

February 4, 2008

American intelligence officials are now claiming that al-Qaida may be trying to obtain weapons of mass destruction.

Key among those concerns is the reported death of an Egyptian chemical weapons expert who had been working with al-Qaida.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- U.S. intelligence officials reportedly are growing increasingly concerned that al-Qaida may be refocusing its efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction.

While the officials do not want to say with certainty the militant group is focusing on WMDs, they are concerned about al-Qaida's ability to create them, the Los Angeles Times said Sunday.

Key among those concerns is the reported death of an Egyptian chemical weapons expert who had been working with al-Qaida.

While Pakistani officials have ensured their U.S. counterparts the man died during an airstrike, U.S. officials believe Abu Khabab Masri may have survived. If he did, intelligence experts are concerned he may still be working with al-Qaida to create chemical weaponry.

Those officials also say al-Qaida has regenerated other vital WMD research it was said to have previously lost during a bombing of the group's Afghan headquarters.

The Times said the U.S. officials' concerns are based on anecdotal evidence garnered from various intelligence sources.