A lab located in the heart of Kabul suggests al-Qaeda is attempting to develop nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Uncovered documents also detail a formula to kill a child with 'seven seeds.'
A British daily says the startling discovery was made inside the safe-house where instructions on how to manufacture the lethal biological agent ricin were found. The poison is produced from a toxic protein found in castor oil seed.
The London Times said written instructions for making the poison were concealed amid a mass of scattered documents found at the house where two doctors once worked. The newspaper said United Nations inspectors found the deadly biological agent in Iraq as part of Saddam Hussein's arsenal of weapons in the 1990s.
"A certain amount, equal to a strong dose, will be able to kill an adult, and a dose equal to seven seeds will kill a child," the Times says in an excerpted passage.
"Gloves and face mask are essential for the preparation of ricin. Period of death varies from 3-5 days minimum, 4-14 days maximum," another page says.
Earlier this week, Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar said the United States was in danger of a reprisal attack when he was interviewed by the BBC. The reclusive leader is believed to be in Kandahar and is married to one of Osama bin Laden's daughters.
"You, the BBC, and American public radios have created a sense of concern but the current situation of Afghanistan is related to a big cause that is the destruction of America.
"The plan is going ahead and, God willing, it is being implemented, but it is a huge task that is beyond the comprehension of human beings. If God's help is with us this will happen within a short period of time.
"Keep in mind this prediction. The real matter is the extinction of America."
Authorities began to examine the deserted facility after opposition forces took control of the capital earlier this week. Materials found at a makeshift laboratory included liquids in dirty brown jars and papers covered in chemical formulas.
At least three al-Qaeda compounds have been examined in recent days. Analysts believe al-Qaeda decentralized its operations when the bombing campaign began and relocated some of its resources in residential areas throughout the country.
U.S. Homeland Security director Tom Ridge confirmed that some documents containing material about how to make a nuclear device were found in an al-Qaeda house in Kabul on Thursday.
But Mr. Ridge pointed out the information found at the house was "taken off the Internet some years ago" and was likely available to anyone. Still, he said the discovery was consistent with comments made by Mr. bin Laden in the past.
A Pakistani newspaper quoted Mr. bin Laden as claiming that al-Qaeda had nuclear and chemical weapon last week. But American officials question whether the Saudi-born dissident has been successful in acquiring such weapons.