AN ELITE squad of scientists — the real-life equivalent of James Bond’s Q Branch — has been enlisted as Britain’s latest force in the fight against international terrorism.

The team of experts, which will operate from a new laboratory at the Ministry of Defence’s secret research centre at Porton Down, Wiltshire, will develop gadgetry and weaponry to counter the terrorist threat.

The 15 key experts who will initially staff the Counter-Terrorism Science and Technology Centre will co-ordinate Britain’s scientific response to attacks such as the July 7 bombings.

Their inventions may not quite be in the fantastical realms of 007’s weapon-packed watches and bizarrely armed Aston Martins, but they will draw on the latest research and experimentation to provide technological answers to terrorism.

The MoD said that the new science centre — which will be officially opened today by John Reid, the Defence Secretary— will be a one-stop shop for all government agencies dealing with terrorist incidents.

The scientists will seek to develop new methods of detecting the presence of explosives, to improve the chances of identifying a suicide bomber before he or she has had the opportunity to carry out an attack.

They will focus strongly on the detection and defusing of the roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices used against British troops by al-Qaeda insurgents in Iraq and Taleban forces in Afghanistan.

The laboratory will be able to tap into the research going on outside government into developing ultra-sensitive and highly portable equipment for identifying traces of chemical or biological agents in the air. Remote-controlled chemical agent detectors are also likely to be developed. Major exercises have been conducted to rehearse the emergency response to a dirty bomb attack, and counter-terrorism agencies claim to have thwar-ted at least two attempts by Islamist extremists to mount chemical attacks in Britain.

“Terrorism is a real threat to us all and we must do everything we can to ensure the UK is best equipped to deal with any incident both at home and wherever our Armed Forces deploy,” Mr Reid said yesterday.

“This new centre will provide a world-class hub to ensure government laboratories, industry and academia are used as efficiently as possible to keep one step ahead of evolving terrorist threats.”

Ken Brigden, the director of the centre and the man who may come to be known as Q, said: “This centre will be staffed by the very best MoD, academic and industry counter-terrorist technical experts with cutting edge expertise in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.

“Terrorist threats evolve rapidly so the centre will respond, not just to current threats but also anticipate threats as they emerge and develop.”

The creation of the centre was welcomed by Lord Rees of Ludlow, the president of the Royal Society. He said: “The new centre should clearly identify sources of expertise and this co-ordinated approach should help to prevent the duplication of scientific research and ensure efficient use of funds.”

Lord Rees also called on the MoD to ensure that the benefits of the centre’s work were made available to all of those involved in the fight against terrorism.

SECRET WEAPONS

• Q branch in the James Bond films is headed by Major Boothroyd — MI6 codename Q
• The part of Q was played from 1963 to 1999 by Desmond Llewelyn; John Cleese took over after his death
• Bond’s first hi-tech gadget was a briefcase fitted with a teargas dispenser, rifle and knives
• The new Porton Down laboratory will be staffed by experts now working in the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory and the Atomic Weapons Establishment

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