The basic technical information needed to construct a workable nuclear device is readily available in the open literature. Page ii gao736 nuclear terrorism response plans table 3. Contrarian articles and books have appeared suggesting that the possibility of nuclear. Nuclear terrorism and improvised nuclear devices 433 charles d. Also called a radiological dispersion device rdd or dirty bomb. 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. Former senator sam nunn, a nti cochair, called the book essential. 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. 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. Federation of american scientists fas 1112 16th street nw suite 400 washington, dc 20036. Radiation risk information for responders following a nuclear detonation preparing to save lives and recover after a nuclear detonation. Report to the cha irman, committee on homeland security. To launch a nuclear attack, terrorists must first obtain a nuclear bomb. Such trends vastly increase the likelihood of a pernicious nonstate actor acquiring weapons of mass destruction in the near future.
His objective is a world of three nos no loose nukes, no new nascent nukes, and no new nuclear weapons states. But in case of nuclear terrorism the incident of 911 can be considered as a turning point in. Probability of a nuclear attack by terrorists has increased, warns council report. There are three types of nuclear terrorism that arouse wide concern.
Some reflections on the threat of nuclear terrorism defence. Traditional coldwar concerns were focused on the possible use of military nuclear weapons. 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. 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. 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. While the threat of a nuclear attack by terrorists has never been greater, the u. Understanding radiologic and nuclear terrorism as public. Response to nuclear and radiological terrorism ios press. 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.
Improvised nuclear devices inds and nuclear weapons. The original surviving terrorism is a handbook developed for the average person who knows nothing about chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear cbrn weapons. Ieds may be used in terrorist actions or in unconventional warfare by guerrillas or commando forces. The bomb dropped on hiroshima, japan, at the end of world war ii is an example of an ind. Creation of the sigma 20 nuclear weapons data category to protect information about data on improvised nuclear devices document 12. The second face of nuclear terrorism involves the improvised nuclear device. The threat of nuclear terrorism has become a global concern. Illicit trafficking of nuclear and radiological materials 415 galya i. This paper presents two effects of nuclear terrorism. 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. Nuclear terrorism denotes the detonation of a yieldproducing nuclear bomb containing fissile material by terrorists.
Number and percentage of 27 major cities with specific radiological dispersal device rdd or improvised nuclear device ind response plans 15 table 4. 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. 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. The chances of a successful nuclear terrorist attack in the decade that began in 2015. 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. 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. 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. The nuclear terrorism threat the nonproliferation policy. Nuclear and radiological threats making the nation safer. Taking all this together, buffet is right and nuclear terrorism seems indeed inevitable.
Probability of a nuclear attack by terrorists has increased. But in case of nuclear terrorism the incident of 911 can be considered as a turning point in maximizing the threat of nuclear terrorism. Nuclear security summit background material april 2010 harvard kennedy school belfer center for science and international affairs nuclear terrorism fact sheet challenge. Weapons, improvised nuclear devices hhs quick reference guide. 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. Improvised nuclear device of most likely guntype or implosiontype. May 30, 2018 the proliferation of emerging and disruptive technologies such as additive manufacturing continues unabated. In the second part of the book the author presents his approach to dealing with the threat.
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. The paper analyses the probabilities of an attack, its lethal effects and the nuclear risk. 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. Recognition and response guide to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attack. Improvised nuclear devices and nuclear terrorism ebook, 2004. Homeland security policy and concluded that attacks using improvised nuclear devices. The nuclear security briefing book nsbb was originally published as a reference guide on the international nuclear. 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. 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. It is quite possible to make an improvised nuclear device from highly enriched uranium or plutonium being used for civilian purposes. Nuclear security briefing book kings college london. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery round, attached to a detonating mechanism. So nuclear disarmament is a goal that is manifestly in our national interest.
Nuclear terrorism is the most serious danger the world is facing. Radiological and nuclear devices and terrorism john w. He is the author or coauthor of over 20 books or major technical reports, and. One is the detonation of a nuclear weapon or improvised nuclear device ind. The smaller the amount of weapons and materials, the smaller the risk. Nuclear terrorism refers to any person or persons who detonate a nuclear weapon in an act of. This book correctly highlights the priority of securing. Threats, challenges, and responsesthe conflictin the days after september 11, doomsday scenarios like a terrorist nuclear attack suddenly seemed plausible. This sparked further work on the question of smuggled atomic devices during the 1950s. Improvised nuclear device an improvised nuclear device ind is a type of nuclear weapon. 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. The second is radioactive contamination by a diffuser, such as a dirty bomb, or environmental poisoning. Comparison of characteristics of radiological dispersal device rdd and improvised nuclear device ind attacks 24. Improvised nuclear devices are nuclear weapons fabricated by terrorists, with or without state assistance, using stolen or diverted snm.
First, dirty bombs or radioactive bombs or radiological dispersion devices rdds, and second, crude atom bombs or improvised nuclear devices inds. 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. Radiological dispersal devices 453 greg van tuyle and james e. The proliferation of emerging and disruptive technologies such as additive manufacturing continues unabated. 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. Preventing nuclear terrorism the belfer center for science and. Excellent overview in the first two chapters, fine advice in the last chapter. The third is the sabotage of nuclear facilities, to diffuse radiation. Some definitions of nuclear terrorism include the sabotage of a nuclear facility andor the detonation of a radiological device, colloquially termed a dirty bomb. The different forms of nuclear terrorism nuclear terrorism can manifest itself in several different forms. An improvised explosive device ied is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. We find the more important difference between the two is that aum is wholly private and without any state sanction, while alqaeda has received significant support from states. With a small improvised nuclear device with a yield of a halfkiloton. A terrorists use of either a radiological dispersal device rdd frequently referred to as a dirty bombor an improvised nuclear device ind to release radioactive materials into the environment could have devastating consequences.
In addition, these emerging novel threats have proved particularly vexing for the existing u. Its just that simple and when it comes to international security, simple is rare. It is the way, once and for all, to deal with nuclear terrorism. 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. Improvised nuclear devices and nuclear terrorism federation. Lack of knowledge is not an impediment to nuclear terrorism.
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 human health and the environment. Such devices may be fabricated in a completely improvised manner or may be an improvised modification to an existing nuclear weapon. 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. Jul 18, 2006 47 frost, nuclear terrorism after 911, pp. The report document 17 of a radiological survey of washington, d. Even the use of a crude nuclear device would have a devastating effect, both physically and psychologically. Nuclear terrorism and national preparedness samuel apikyan.