Bio-Terrorism: A Brief Legislative Scrutiny

Abstract

Terrorism, by all means, challenges the stability of societies and the peace of mind of the people living in those societies. It is an age-old phenomenon that has evolved into an international network and threatens international peace, democracy, and development. In the modern era, the impact of terrorism is not limited to a particular region. With the advent of technology, access to resources and information, the beginning of the 21st century can be treated as an era of globalized terrorism.3 The new terrorism of today is characterized by the threat of weapons of mass destruction. That is evident in the causalities and destruction that happened in the terrorist attacks all across the globe in the past few years. The advent of technology, biotechnology, microbiology, molecular chemistry, and genetic engineering has opened new vistas for mankind. But, on the other side, it has some adverse effects in the form of manufacture and proliferation of biological and chemical weapons. Modern technology, innovative sources of funding, and world network connections have given terrorists extraordinary capabilities that were demonstrated in different ways.4 Consequently, countries are forced to spend the kind of intellectual, physical, and other resources in monitoring and assessing the activities of the various terrorist organizations around the world. The harm caused by the international terrorist movement has been described as 'transnational harm' that poses a serious challenge to national and international security.5 Terrorist groups have generally sought to achieve their objectives with small arms and conventional explosives. This tendency may be changing, however, with the emergence of more deadly forms of terrorist activities. Biological terrorism is rampant than before and more threatening than any other explosives or chemicals. Preventing or countering bio-terrorism will be extremely difficult. The process for creating biological weapons is now available on the internet and anyone with modest finances and basic training in biology and engineering could develop an effective weapon at little cost.6 The terrorist groups vowed to destruct, might deliberately produce and disseminate disease agents that are contagious in humans, such as pneumonic plague bacteria or various types of haemorrhagic fever viruses, to trigger widespread epidemics that would undermine social structures.7 The outbreak of corona virus in 2020 has caused unprecedented consequences all across the globe. Still, discussions and deliberations are going on relating to the source and nature of viruses leading to the suspicion that it is a bio weapon developed by China.