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