Dirty bombPossibility of “dirty bombs” a major terrorism threat
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that there were 140 cases of missing or unauthorized nuclear and radioactive material in 2013 — a pressing reminder that the possibility of possession of nuclear materials by terrorist organizations is both real and current.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that there were 140 cases of missing or unauthorized nuclear and radioactive material in 2013 — a pressing reminder that the possibility of possession of nuclear materials by terrorist organizations is both real and current.
Denis Flory, deputy director general of the IAEA, notes that even if the radioactive material is not weapons-grade, it can be combined with conventional explosives to create a “dirty bomb.”
He told Aljazeera America, “Even if they can’t be used for making a nuclear weapon, they can be used in radioactive dispersal devices.” Flory goes on to say that “member states had reported nearly 2,500 cases to the IAEA’s Incident and Trafficking Database since it was set up two decades ago. More than 120 countries take part in this information exchange project, covering theft, sabotage, unauthorized access and illegal transfers.”
The issue is particularly poignant given the fact that leaders of 53 countries — including U.S. President Barack Obama — met last week at the Hague Nuclear Security Summit, where they called for more international action to help prevent radical groups from obtaining atomic bombs.
At the same time, additional pressure is on to ratify a 2005 amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials. The hold up, as Aljazeera mentions, is that “There are still 27 countries — including the United States — which need to ratify the amendment, which expands the coverage from only the protection of nuclear material in international transport to also include domestic use, transport and storage.”
Matthew Bunn, a professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, also echoed this, explaining that the lack of U.S. involvement has made it harder for the country to reinforce responsible safety measures.
He concluded that overall “The problem appears to be a combination of lack of sustained high-level attention by both the administration and Congress and disputes over unrelated issues.”
