NUCLEAR TERRORISM AND THE THREAT OF DIRTY BOMB
Keywords:
Terrorist groups, nuclear terrorism, dirty bomb, radiation dispersal device, fissile material, weapons of mass disruption.Abstract
Today nuclear terrorism is a clear and present danger. Various evidences show that terrorist groups operating in various parts of the world has such intention of acquiring nuclear capability. The paper studies the threat of nuclear terrorism in the era global terrorism. It also look at the possibility and possible impact of dirty bomb if explodes in densely populated areas. The threat is real if we look at the status of nuclear and radioactive material trafficking data as well as the increasing use of radioactive substances in various peaceful purposes in medicine, industry, research laboratory, agriculture. These dual use radioactive materials if fall into the hands of terrorist groups would pose serious threat to peace and security of any nation. Imagine that an explosive laden with radioactive materials explode in densely populated areas in Delhi or Mumbai or Kolkata. Although radiological dispersal devices or dirty bombs are not weapons of mass destruction, its health, economic, environment and psychological impact is huge.
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