Nuclear and Biological Threats: The Two Most Lethal Choices in a Terrorist's CBRN Toolbox

• NCJ Number: 226298
• Journal: Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 16,18,19
• Author(s): Jeremy Tamsett
• Date Published: January 2009
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article assesses the terrorist threats of nuclear and biological weapon attacks as well as counterterrorism responses to such threats.

Abstract

Unless terrorists steal or buy an intact nuclear weapon, which only a few nation-states possess, terrorists must build an improvised nuclear device (IND). The successful construction of an IND would require access to certain types of equipment, machining tools, engineering and scientific know-how, and possession of fissile material. To date, 67 percent of the cases of lost or stolen fissile materials have not been resolved by recovery; however, since September 11, 2001, there have been no reported cases of theft of any radioactive sources of more than a few grams. Still, there is no way of knowing with certainty how many incidents have not been detected or reported. Overall, nuclear terrorism is properly categorized as a high-consequence, low-probability event. Many experts now argue that a biological terrorist attack (bioterrorism) could supersede nuclear terrorism as the primary threat of the 21st century. In assessing the possibility of a bioterrorist attack, two conditions must exist, the intent to use and the capability to acquire and use such a weapon. Only one terrorist group to date has used such a weapon successfully, i.e., the Japanese terrorist cult Aum Shinrikyo. In the 1990s, members of this group developed and used the chemical nerve agent sarin against subway passengers in Tokyo, resulting in 12 deaths and approximately 1,000 injuries. There is little doubt that al Qaeda has the intent to use biological weapons to murder perceived enemies on as large a scale as possible; however, there is no evidence that they are currently involved in efforts to develop such weapons. The United States should stockpile vaccines and other medical countermeasures for some of the more accessible and deadly biological agents.