There have been rumors amongst elements of the underground doof scene that such groups may be planning to target larger dance events. I hasten to add I have heard no sound info, just a couple of rumors.
Maybe it all stemmed from this. Recently a thread was started on spraci (Bris) by "sikheelers" where the contributor threatened that their group would bring guns to a certain upcoming doof, because it was viewed that the event portrayed the use of psychedelics as being beneficial; a view which was way out of perspective. After the identity of the poster was discovered, it was quickly revealed this was a hoax and the poster sikheeler backpedaled very quickly. So I'm not surprised such rumors are currently floating.
Yes it would be easy to include MDMA in a poison pill, and yes Ricin is not overly difficult to extract, but to what gain would this achieve for Al Qaeda other such groups other than to play into the hands of Western Governments as Pleo stated.
Probably the best advice in attempting to avoid any dangerous forms, other than abstaining, is to not purchase your pills at an event or off someone you've just met, especially if you don't test!! As well, use pill reports and reliable sources to estimate “quality” before committing yourself. Simple rules, yet for some people it would seem too hard to play by?!
Perhaps more potentially threatening, are factions within some extreme local right wing groups. Some of these have an abiding hatred of dance culture and all it represents, and there are a lot of poisons known which are easily obtainable or extractable, maybe not as toxic as ricin but just as effective in the milligram range. It’s just that people who possess pill presses are not so likely to be known, and less likely to be party to any act of mass murder.
But we live in a world full of dangers. This is perhaps just another to add to the list. Awareness and appropriate response is all you can hope to possess, unless of course you order in a bail of cotton wool, build a nuclear shelter and stay home for the rest of your life