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Use of nuclear and radiological weapons by terrorists?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2010

Christoph Wirz  and
Emmanuel Egger
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Abstract

There is great concern that terrorists could obtain nuclear or radiological weapons and detonate them in a large city. The authors analyse the technical requirements for and obstacles to obtaining such weapons. What difficulties would have to be surmounted? Could these problems be solved by a terrorist organization without direct support from a State possessing nuclear weapons? The authors conclude that nuclear weapons are most likely out of reach for terrorists. However, radiological weapons may well be used by terrorists in the future. The possible consequences of such an attack are discussed.

Type
Means of Warfare
Information
International Review of the Red Cross , Volume 87 , Issue 859: Means of warfare , September 2005 , pp. 497 - 510
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 2005

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References

1 Anet, Bernard, Schmid, Ernst, Wirz, Christoph: “Nuclear terrorism: A threat to Switzerland?” Spiez Laboratory Internal Report, LS2000-03, 2000.Google Scholar

2 Yield: energy released, usually expressed in kilotons of TNT equivalent (kT); 1 kT corresponds to 1012 calories or 4.19 × 1012 joules.

3 1 mSv is the same as 100 mrem.

4 “Report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of atomic radiation to the General Assembly,” generally referred as UNSCEAR 2000 Report.

5 Protection of the Public in Situations of Prolonged Radiation Exposures, ICRP Publication 82, 2000.

6 Lasker, Roz D.: Redefining Readiness: Terrorism Planning through the Eyes of the Public, Center for the Advancement of Collaborative Strategies in Health, New York Academy of Medicine, 14 September 2004.Google Scholar

7 D. Elcock, G.A. Klemic, A.L. Taboas: “Establishing remediation levels in response to a radiological dispersal event” (or ‘dirty bomb’), Environ. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 38, No. 9, pp. 2505–2512.

8 Richard G. Lugar: The Lugar Survey on Proliferation: Threats and Responses, June 2005, available at <http://lugar.senate.gov/reports/NPSurvey.pdf> (visited on 12 September 2005).