UK warns of chemical weapons being seized by al Qaeda-backed rebels in Syria

Syria's stockpiles of chemical weapons can be accessed by al-Qaeda that can lead to 'catastrophic' consequences, a parliamentary committee in the UK has warned.

The Intelligence and Security Committee's annual report said spy chiefs considered this the UK's 'the most worrying emerging terrorist threat'.

According to the BBC, they also had no doubt that vast stockpiles of chemical weapons had been amassed in Syria.

The ISC, which oversees the work of the intelligence agencies, said extremist elements in Syria could take advantage of the permissive environment to develop external attack plans, including against Western targets.

After hearing evidence from senior members of the intelligence agencies and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), the committee highlighted serious concern among its witnesses that Syria's weapons stockpiles might be compromised, the report added.