Harvard researcher
warns ISIS may be on the brink of using nuclear weapons: Chilling report
highlights risk of dirty bombs, power station sabotage and device
detonation
- Recent report explains that nuclear threat rises as terror groups evolve
- The authors point to three types of nuclear or radiological terrorism
- Includes detonation of bomb, use of ‘dirty bomb,’ or sabotage of facility
- No firm indication of intentions yet, but report warns better security needed
- For the latest Islamic State news updates visit www.dailymail.co.uk/isis
In a recent report for Project on Managing
the Atom from Harvard’s Belfer Center, Matthew Bunn explains how the
threat of nuclear terrorism is rising as extremist groups continue to
evolve.
While there has not been any concrete indication that ISIS is pursuing nuclear materials, the researcher says that the actions and rhetoric of the group suggest its need for such powerful weapons.
The possibility of a nuclear-armed ISIS may not
be as far-off as many experts suggest, a Harvard researcher has
warned. In a recent report for Project on Managing the Atom from
Harvard’s Belfer Center, Matthew Bunn explains how the threat of nuclear
terrorism is rising as extremist groups continue to evolve
In recent years, there have been numerous occasions of suspicious events relating to nuclear facilities in Belgium, Defense One points out.
While it would be difficult to ISIS or
other terror groups to obtain the knowledge of security features and
access nuclear materials, Bunn explains that the evidence of such
intentions are growing.
The report precedes the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, which will take place between March 31 and April 1.
According to the authors, the summit will
help to determine the feasibility of terrorist groups getting their
hands on nuclear materials.
The threats come from the possibility of
three types of nuclear or radiological terrorism, the authors write:
detonation of an actual nuclear bomb, sabotage of a nuclear facility, or
use of a ‘dirty bomb’ to spread radioactive material.
Each of these comes at a different level of risk, and the authors
focus for the most part on the potential danger from the use of an
actual nuclear bomb, as these results would be ‘most catastrophic.’
Still, the other types of threats do not come without consequences.
‘The radiation from a dirty bomb, by
contrast, might not kill anyone—at least in the near term—but could
impose billions of dollars in economic disruption and cleanup costs,’
the authors write.
‘The effects of sabotage of a nuclear
facility would depend heavily on the specific nature of the attack, but
would likely range between the other two types of attack in severity.
‘The difficulty of achieving a successful sabotage is also intermediate between the other two.’
Nuclear sites may see tightened security, but
there are also numerous other locations where radioactive materials can
be acquired, and are less protected. Hospitals and industrial sites, for
instance, also contain such materials in a more easily accessible
location,’ the researcher explains
In order to reduce the chance of these
attacks, the report explains that effective and sustainable nuclear
security will be necessary.
But, while progress has been made in recent years, the researchers say the work is not done.
Nuclear sites may see tightened security,
but there are also numerous other locations where radioactive materials
can be acquired, and are less protected.
Hospitals and industrial sites, for
instance, also contain such materials in a more easily accessible
location, the researcher explains.
Though the probability of such an event
may not be high as of yet, the potential consequences would be
catastrophic, the researchers say, and this should act as a motivator
for improved nuclear security measures worldwide.
