Well, the article has surfaced on FOX, though it's an AP article. Interestingly enough, they don't quote the SF Chronicle, it's now "anonymous officials close the investigation." The article also alleges that the King of Jordan has commented on it, not to the SF Chronicle, but in a letter of thanks to Jordanian Intelligence chief.
"Jordan's King Abdullah II said this week in a published letter of thanks to his intelligence chief, Gen. Saad Kheir, that the arrests of the terror cell members have "saved thousands of lives."
In his letter, Abdullah said that had the chemical bomb plot not been uncovered, Jordan would have seen "a crime that would have been unprecedented in the country in terms of the size of explosives mounted on the vehicles and the methods of carrying out the attacks or the civilian locations chosen."
Now that sounds interesting, but so far I haven't found the letter, but there is more of interest in the article that still sounds somewhat suspect. And of course, what the king is quoted as saying (explosives but not chemicals), we'll come back to that point, but more from the AP/Fox article here where things seem to get rather murky.
"Jordanian officials say the arrests occurred after suspected militants entered Jordan from neighboring Syria in at least three vehicles filled with explosives, detonators and raw material to be used in bomb-making."
No mention of chemicals. Interesting eh.
I did find an article in the Jordan Times on the plot, which quoted more of the king's letter, this is the complete article;
"AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday sent a letter to Director of the Public Intelligence Department General Saad Kheir, praising the work of security services that recently thwarted a terrorist attack on Jordan.
“The country has, for the past few days, gone through extremely critical times after we were informed of the dreadful plot targeting our faithful people planned by a group of terrorists... a crime that would have been unprecedented in the country in terms of the size of explosives used and the manner of execution...,” the King said in the letter.
The Monarch also lauded citizens' courage and exceptional cooperation with the security forces during the hunt for the suspects.
On April 10, security forces announced the arrest of several suspects and the detention of two cars laden with explosives and weapons outside Irbid.
Interrogations revealed that the suspects had planned to target several public and foreign institutions. General Kheir, who is also King's Adviser on Security Affairs and Director of the State Security Council, replied in a letter in which he vowed, on behalf of the security personnel, to remain alert to threats and safeguard the security and stability of the country and the people."
Not a mention of chemicals or chemical weapons. One should certainly retain a healthy level of suspicioc on this one.
References:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117414,00.html http://www.jordantimes.com/wed/homenews/homenews5.htm