The fast-encroaching darkness

A new European Parliament report is hair-raisingly candid about how advanced the threat is:

ISIS has recruited experts with chemistry, physics and computer science degrees to wage war with weapons of mass destruction against the West, a shocking European Parliament report has claimed. 

The terror organisation, according to the briefing document, 'may be planning to try to use internationally banned weapons of mass destruction in future attacks'.

The document, which was compiled in the aftermath of the deadly attacks on Paris claimed that ISIS has already smuggled WMD material into Europe.  

Experts fear that ISIS will be able to exploit a failure of EU governments to share information on possible terrorists.  Already, British police forces have been conducting exercises on how to deal with various types of terrorist attack. But the EU report claims that government should 'consider publicly addressing the possibility of terrorist attack using chemical, biological, radiological or even nuclear materials'.

The report, ISIL/Da'esh and 'non-conventional' weapons of terror warns: 'At present, European citizens are not seriously contemplating the possibility that extremist groups might use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) materials during attacks in Europe. Under these circumstances, the impact of such an attack, should it occur, would be even more destabilising.' 

Rob Wainwright, head of Europol said after the attacks on Paris: 'We are dealing with a very serious, well-resourced, determined international terrorist organisation that is now active on the streets of Europe. 

'This represents the most serious terrorist threat faced in Europe for 10 years.' 

Mr Wainwright warned that ISIS had serious capabilities in terms of resources and manpower.' Nomi Bar-Yaacov, Associate Fellow in Chatham House's International Security Department said: 'There is a very real risk of ISIS using unconventional weapons in Europe and beyond.' Wolfgang Rudischhauser, Director of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation Centre at NATO said: 'ISIS actually has already acquired the knowledge, and in some cases the human expertise, that would allow it to use CBRN materials as weapons of terror.' The report claims 'ISIL/Da'esh has recruited and continues to recruit hundreds of foreign fighters, including some with degrees in physics, chemistry and computer science, who experts believe have the ability to manufacture lethal weapons from raw substances.' EU governments have been warned to watch out for 'other radicalised individuals, who have access to, or work in, sensitive areas'. Intelligence services have also been warned to screen returning Jihadi fighters for 'specialist CBRN knowledge'. The shocking study claims that 150 cases of nuclear or radiological trafficking are reported annually. Worse still: 'CBRN substances have been carried undetected into the European Union. 

Exit question: What is sufficient to stop this?