While acknowledging the catastrophic consequences of an act of terrorism employing either an improvised nuclear device or a violent attack against a nuclear installation causing spread of lethal. Nuclear explosion this form of nuclear terrorism is the gravest in terms of the number of casualties, the immediate vast destruction and the lethal longterm effects on. Improvised nuclear devices or inds are theoretical illicit nuclear weapons bought, stolen, or otherwise originating from a nuclear state, or a weapon fabricated by a terrorist group from illegally obtained fissile nuclear weapons material that produces a nuclear explosion. The middle gets bogged down in the value of mca material control and accountability, which is actually a uniquely effective hurdle for any terrorist who wants a nuclear device improvised, bought, stolen, or gifted. Weapons, improvised nuclear devices hhs quick reference guide. First, dirty bombs or radioactive bombs or radiological dispersion devices rdds, and second, crude atom bombs or improvised nuclear devices inds. Preventing nuclear terrorism the belfer center for science and. Recognition and response guide to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attack.
Communicating in the immediate aftermath is meant to be used in combination with the planning guidance for response to an improvised nuclear detonation 2 nd edition, published in june 2010 by the national security. This study is the result of the response to nuclear and radiological terrorism workshop conducted by the nato center of excellence defence against terrorism coedat on 1415 january 2010 in ankara, turkey, under the sponsorship of science for peace and security programme. Page ii gao736 nuclear terrorism response plans table 3. To launch a nuclear attack, terrorists must first obtain a nuclear bomb. Creation of the sigma 20 nuclear weapons data category to protect information about data on improvised nuclear devices document 12. The second is radioactive contamination by a diffuser, such as a dirty bomb, or environmental poisoning. Threats, challenges, and responsesthe conflictin the days after september 11, doomsday scenarios like a terrorist nuclear attack suddenly seemed plausible. The proliferation of emerging and disruptive technologies such as additive manufacturing continues unabated. Also called a radiological dispersion device rdd or dirty bomb.
Probability of a nuclear attack by terrorists has increased, warns council report. It is the way, once and for all, to deal with nuclear terrorism. But in case of nuclear terrorism the incident of 911 can be considered as a turning point in. The paper analyses the probabilities of an attack, its lethal effects and the nuclear risk. One is the detonation of a nuclear weapon or improvised nuclear device ind. As vice president dick cheney once argued, if there is a one percent chance of a terrorist developing a nuclear weapon, we have to treat it as a certainty in terms of our response. Improvised nuclear devices and nuclear terrorism ebook, 2004. Improvised nuclear devices and nuclear terrorism federation. The gravest danger, however, and the one requiring the most urgent attention is the possibility that terrorists could obtain highly enriched uranium heu or plutonium for use in an improvised nuclear device ind.
Contrarian articles and books have appeared suggesting that the possibility of nuclear. Nuclear terrorism refers to any person or persons who detonate a nuclear weapon in an act of terrorism meaning illegal or immoral use of violence for a political or religious cause. Response to nuclear and radiological terrorism ios press. Communicating in the immediate aftermath external icon a resource for emergency responders and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials communicating with the public in the immediate aftermath of an improvised nuclear detonation in the united states. The smaller the amount of weapons and materials, the smaller the risk. Probability of a nuclear attack by terrorists has increased. In the second part of the book the author presents his approach to dealing with the threat. Taking all this together, buffet is right and nuclear terrorism seems indeed inevitable. Radiological dispersal devices 453 greg van tuyle and james e. Nuclear terrorism refers to any person or persons who detonate a nuclear weapon in an act of. Even the use of a crude nuclear device would have a devastating effect, both physically and psychologically.
Ieds may be used in terrorist actions or in unconventional warfare by guerrillas or commando forces. Federation of american scientists fas 1112 16th street nw suite 400 washington, dc 20036. The original surviving terrorism is a handbook developed for the average person who knows nothing about chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear cbrn weapons. Weapons of mass destruction commission stockholm, sweden terrorists seeking to unleash massive violence and destruction may climb the escalation ladder to the highest rungs. Some definitions of nuclear terrorism include the sabotage of a nuclear facility and or the detonation of a radiological device, colloquially termed a dirty bomb, but consensus is lacking. Nuclear terrorism is the most serious danger the world is facing. Improvised nuclear device of most likely guntype or implosiontype. Jul 18, 2006 47 frost, nuclear terrorism after 911, pp.
Our strategy to prepare for these threats is multilayered and the events of these past years have proved the necessity to reevaluate the national and. However, the 3 the global nuclear stockpile stands at roughly 19,000 nuclear weaponsthe nucleararmed states account for an estimated 420 of those weapons, while the nuclear weapon states have the rest. The threat of nuclear terrorism has become a global concern. This book correctly highlights the priority of securing. Nuclear terrorism could take several forms, from an attack on nuclear power plants and reactors to the detonation of a nuclear bomb in an urban area the international community urgently needs to expand its efforts to secure existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons and materials, particularly in russia, pakistan, and india. Improvised nuclear devices inds and nuclear weapons. The nuclear terrorism threat the nonproliferation policy. Improvised nuclear device an improvised nuclear device ind is a type of nuclear weapon. The bomb dropped on hiroshima, japan, at the end of world war ii is an example of an ind.
He is the author or coauthor of over 20 books or major technical reports, and. Former senator sam nunn, a nti cochair, called the book essential. Some definitions of nuclear terrorism include the sabotage of a nuclear facility and or the detonation of a radiological device, colloquially termed a dirty bomb. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery round, attached to a detonating mechanism.
Nuclear security summit background material april 2010 harvard kennedy school belfer center for science and international affairs nuclear terrorism fact sheet challenge. Some definitions of nuclear terrorism include the sabotage of a nuclear facility andor the detonation of a radiological device, colloquially termed a dirty bomb, but consensus is lacking. It is quite possible to make an improvised nuclear device from highly enriched uranium or plutonium being used for civilian purposes. Excellent overview in the first two chapters, fine advice in the last chapter. Radiation risk information for responders following a nuclear detonation preparing to save lives and recover after a nuclear detonation. His objective is a world of three nos no loose nukes, no new nascent nukes, and no new nuclear weapons states. The second face of nuclear terrorism involves the improvised nuclear device. Traditional coldwar concerns were focused on the possible use of military nuclear weapons. The chances of a successful nuclear terrorist attack in the decade that began in 2015.
Such trends vastly increase the likelihood of a pernicious nonstate actor acquiring weapons of mass destruction in the near future. While the threat of a nuclear attack by terrorists has never been greater, the u. Radiological and nuclear devices and terrorism john w. Its just that simple and when it comes to international security, simple is rare. Nuclear terrorism denotes the detonation of a yieldproducing nuclear bomb containing fissile material by terrorists. The basic technical information needed to construct a workable nuclear device is readily available in the open literature. Understanding radiologic and nuclear terrorism as public. This paper presents two effects of nuclear terrorism. Euratom and nuclear safeguards download ebook pdf, epub. Mohamed elbaradei former director of the iaea and winner of the 2005 nobel peace prize, february 1, 2009.
This important book makes a big contribution to public understanding and to public policy on nuclear terrorism, which might yetdespite the daunting oddsprevent it from ever happening. But in case of nuclear terrorism the incident of 911 can be considered as a turning point in maximizing the threat of nuclear terrorism. Focusing on radiation and nuclear terrorism, we apply a public health perspective to explore relevant physical health and psychosocial impacts, the evolving national response infrastructure created to address terrorism, and the potential roles of nuclear medicine. With a small improvised nuclear device with a yield of a halfkiloton. The different forms of nuclear terrorism nuclear terrorism can manifest itself in several different forms. Nuclear security briefing book kings college london. The nuclear crisis in fukushima and growing threats of nuclear terrorism must serve as a wakeup call, prompting greater action to prepare ourselves for nuclear and radiological disasters. May 30, 2018 the proliferation of emerging and disruptive technologies such as additive manufacturing continues unabated. There are three types of nuclear terrorism that arouse wide concern. The book is divided into 3 sections and includes 30 chapters on such topics as the security of nuclear facilities and material, the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, improvised nuclear devices, how to prevent nuclear terrorism. Lack of knowledge is not an impediment to nuclear terrorism. So nuclear disarmament is a goal that is manifestly in our national interest. This sparked further work on the question of smuggled atomic devices during the 1950s.
Nuclear terrorism and improvised nuclear devices 433 charles d. Expert assessments although no serious terrorist attempts to construct an improvised nuclear device ind have yet been uncovered, terrorism experts cite increasing indications of terrorist groups desiring to create and use such devices. Such devices may be fabricated in a completely improvised manner or may be an improvised modification to an existing nuclear weapon. Nuclear terrorism and national preparedness samuel apikyan. Homeland security policy and concluded that attacks using improvised nuclear devices. Nuclear safeguards, security and nonproliferation 1st edition. Illicit trafficking of nuclear and radiological materials 415 galya i. Some definitions of nuclear terrorism include the sabotage of a nuclear facility andor the detonation of a radiological device, colloquially termed a dirty bomb. A nuclear terrorist attack might be carried out with an improvised nuclear device ind, which is a crude nuclear device built from the components of a stolen weapon or from scratch using nuclear material plutonium or highly enriched. Feb 09, 2002 nuclear terrorism could take several forms, from an attack on nuclear power plants and reactors to the detonation of a nuclear bomb in an urban area the international community urgently needs to expand its efforts to secure existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons and materials, particularly in russia, pakistan, and india. Report to the cha irman, committee on homeland security.
Improvised nuclear devices are nuclear weapons fabricated by terrorists, with or without state assistance, using stolen or diverted snm. An improvised explosive device ied is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. Nuclear terrorism threats and responses future of the. When an ind explodes, it gives off four types of energy. Comparison of characteristics of radiological dispersal device rdd and improvised nuclear device ind attacks 24. Some reflections on the threat of nuclear terrorism defence. The nuclear security briefing book nsbb was originally published as a reference guide on the international nuclear. The report document 17 of a radiological survey of washington, d.
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