Nuclear Terrorism Nuclear Terrorism Identification, Identification, Primary Response, Primary Response, Effects Effects
Mar 30, 2015
Nuclear TerrorismNuclear Terrorism
Identification,Identification,
Primary Response,Primary Response,
EffectsEffects
Official use onlyOfficial use onlyThe information contained in this briefing is The information contained in this briefing is
classified as Official Use Only. Information is classified as Official Use Only. Information is intended for law enforcement, fire, and EMS intended for law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel only and may not be divulged or personnel only and may not be divulged or
released to the general public.released to the general public.
ObjectivesObjectives
Background: Nature of eventBackground: Nature of event
Identification by location & natureIdentification by location & nature
Detection issuesDetection issues
First responder preparednessFirst responder preparedness
Follow-on responseFollow-on response
Consequence managementConsequence management
Nature of the EventNature of the Event
Nuclear WeaponsNuclear Weapons
Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
Radiation Emitting DevicesRadiation Emitting Devices
Threats & MisinformationThreats & Misinformation
Other threatsOther threats
Nuclear WeaponsNuclear Weapons
Nuclear BombsNuclear Bombs Fission (Atomic Bomb)Fission (Atomic Bomb) Fusion (Hydrogen Bomb)Fusion (Hydrogen Bomb) Enhanced Radiation (Neutron)Enhanced Radiation (Neutron)
““Backpack” devicesBackpack” devices Soviet UnionSoviet Union United StatesUnited States
Improvised DevicesImprovised Devices 33rdrd World World
Weapon DesignsWeapon Designs
Gun TypeGun Type Apple coreApple core Gun barrelGun barrel Fast enoughFast enough
Implosion TypeImplosion Type SphereSphere Fast enoughFast enough Perfectly symetricalPerfectly symetrical
Nuclear Weapon EffectivenessNuclear Weapon Effectiveness
Nuclear Weapons: SourcesNuclear Weapons: Sources
StolenStolen From where?From where?
PurchasedPurchased Former Russian statesFormer Russian states
Self builtSelf built Obtaining materialObtaining material TechnologyTechnology
Self Built WeaponsSelf Built Weapons
Technically possibleTechnically possible
No way to testNo way to test
Technology very preciseTechnology very precise
Suitcase nukesSuitcase nukes Gun design onlyGun design only Only UOnly U235235
Cannot use PCannot use P239239
Nuclear Weapons: EffectivenessNuclear Weapons: Effectiveness
Radiological Dispersal Radiological Dispersal DevicesDevices
““Dirty Bomb”Dirty Bomb”
RDDRDD
Nuclear Material + BoomNuclear Material + Boom Bomb/explosiveBomb/explosive
Nuclear Material + SprayNuclear Material + Spray Liquid materialLiquid material
Nuclear Material + HeatNuclear Material + Heat ThermiteThermite
Effectiveness: FormEffectiveness: Form
SolidSolid Single pieceSingle piece Powder, dust, particulatePowder, dust, particulate
LiquidLiquid Natural stateNatural state Dissolved MaterialDissolved Material
GasGas Very unlikelyVery unlikely
Effectiveness: Device DesignEffectiveness: Device Design
High Order ExplosiveHigh Order Explosive TNT/C-4/ANFOTNT/C-4/ANFO
Low Order ExplosiveLow Order Explosive Black powder/ANFOBlack powder/ANFO
Pyrotechnic DevicePyrotechnic Device ThermiteThermite LNG/PropaneLNG/Propane
Kinetic Energy DeviceKinetic Energy Device Car crashCar crash Gravity BombGravity Bomb
Effectiveness: RangeEffectiveness: Range
Amount of explosiveAmount of explosive
DesignDesign
PackagePackage
LocationLocation
Non-Explosive WeaponsNon-Explosive Weapons
SaltingSalting
Radiation Emitting DeviceRadiation Emitting Device
ThreatThreat
MisinformationMisinformation
Attack on fixed sitesAttack on fixed sites
Attack on transportationAttack on transportation
SaltingSalting
Dispersal of RAM by deliberate placementDispersal of RAM by deliberate placement
Dust, powder, liquidDust, powder, liquid
Spread by air, people, trafficSpread by air, people, traffic
Exposure + contaminationExposure + contamination
Effectiveness?Effectiveness? Goianna, BrazilGoianna, Brazil
100,000 contaminated100,000 contaminated
3 direct deaths3 direct deaths
Radiation Emitting DevicesRadiation Emitting Devices“Easter Eggs”“Easter Eggs”
RAM sourceRAM source SolidSolid High-levelHigh-level
Placed in high-traffic (human) areaPlaced in high-traffic (human) area
Exposure – no contaminationExposure – no contamination
Effectiveness?Effectiveness? Little direct harmLittle direct harm Terror factor very highTerror factor very high
Threat and/or MisinformationThreat and/or Misinformation
Threaten to useThreaten to use
False claims following simple bombingFalse claims following simple bombing Claim government in lyingClaim government in lying
CredibilityCredibility
Effectiveness?Effectiveness? Credibility issuesCredibility issues Use of media’s competitivenessUse of media’s competitiveness
Other Nuclear ThreatsOther Nuclear Threats
Attack on power plantsAttack on power plants
Attack on material in transportAttack on material in transport
Attack on academic facilityAttack on academic facility
Which Device? Depends…Which Device? Depends…
Material availableMaterial available Amount & TypeAmount & Type
IntentIntent Cause harm or just panicCause harm or just panic
Desired outcomeDesired outcome Deaths or disruptionDeaths or disruption
EffectivenessEffectivenessDeaths/Injuries
Weapon RDDSalting “Easter Egg” Threat
EffectivenessEffectivenessPanic/Disruption
Weapon RDD Salting “Easter Egg” Threat
RDD Assessment: LocationRDD Assessment: Location
High profileHigh profile Nationally significantNationally significant Historically significantHistorically significant
High valueHigh value High economic importanceHigh economic importance Cost to replace/decontaminateCost to replace/decontaminate
Long-term impactLong-term impact FarmlandFarmland
RDD Assessment: NatureRDD Assessment: Nature
Deny useDeny use
Destroy valueDestroy value
Create panicCreate panic
Kill/InjureKill/Injure
Long-term concernsLong-term concerns