An assessment of the terrorist threat to use a nuclear or radiological device in an attack

This paper will discuss terrorism from the perspective of a terrorist organisation acquiring nuclear material to build weapons and how security of radiological material world wide will minimise the risk of such devices being used. It will discuss the need to improve security at nuclear waste processing and storage sites and the adequacy of current security. It will also discuss the phenomenon of suicide attacks by the bomb carriers and the role of the media in informing and educating the general public of the consequences should such a device containing nuclear material be detonated.

Keywords: dirty bombs, education, first responders, media, nuclear material, radiological devices, terrorism, threat assessment, terrorist threat, nuclear waste processing, nuclear storage, security, suicide bombers, nuclear safety