Nuclear Terrorism Identification, Primary Response, Effects

Official use only The information contained in this briefing is classified as Official Use Only. Information is intended for law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel only and may not be divulged or released to the general public.

Objectives Background: Nature of event Identification by location & nature Detection issues First responder preparedness Follow-on response Consequence management

Nature of the Event Nuclear Weapons Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) Radiation Emitting Devices Threats & Misinformation Other threats

Nuclear Weapons Nuclear Bombs Fission (Atomic Bomb) Fission (Atomic Bomb) Fusion (Hydrogen Bomb) Fusion (Hydrogen Bomb) Enhanced Radiation (Neutron) Enhanced Radiation (Neutron) Backpack devices Soviet Union Soviet Union United States United States Improvised Devices 3 rd World 3 rd World

Weapon Designs Gun Type Apple core Apple core Gun barrel Gun barrel Fast enough Fast enough Implosion Type Sphere Sphere Fast enough Fast enough Perfectly symetrical Perfectly symetrical

Nuclear Weapon Effectiveness

Nuclear Weapons: Sources Stolen From where? From where?Purchased Former Russian states Former Russian states Self built Obtaining material Obtaining material Technology Technology

Self Built Weapons Technically possible No way to test Technology very precise Suitcase nukes Gun design only Gun design only Only U 235 Only U 235 Cannot use P 239 Cannot use P 239

Nuclear Weapons: Effectiveness

Radiological Dispersal Devices Dirty Bomb

RDD Nuclear Material + Boom Bomb/explosive Bomb/explosive Nuclear Material + Spray Liquid material Liquid material Nuclear Material + Heat Thermite Thermite

Effectiveness: Form Solid Single piece Single piece Powder, dust, particulate Powder, dust, particulateLiquid Natural state Natural state Dissolved Material Dissolved MaterialGas Very unlikely Very unlikely

Effectiveness: Device Design High Order Explosive TNT/C-4/ANFO TNT/C-4/ANFO Low Order Explosive Black powder/ANFO Black powder/ANFO Pyrotechnic Device Pyrotechnic Device Thermite Thermite LNG/Propane LNG/Propane Kinetic Energy Device Car crash Car crash Gravity Bomb Gravity Bomb

Effectiveness: Range Amount of explosive DesignPackageLocation

Non-Explosive Weapons Salting Radiation Emitting Device ThreatMisinformation Attack on fixed sites Attack on transportation

Salting Dispersal of RAM by deliberate placement Dust, powder, liquid Spread by air, people, traffic Exposure + contamination Effectiveness? Goianna, Brazil Goianna, Brazil 100,000 contaminated 3 direct deaths

Radiation Emitting Devices Easter Eggs RAM source Solid Solid High-level High-level Placed in high-traffic (human) area Exposure – no contamination Effectiveness? Little direct harm Little direct harm Terror factor very high Terror factor very high

Threat and/or Misinformation Threaten to use False claims following simple bombing Claim government in lying Claim government in lyingCredibilityEffectiveness? Credibility issues Credibility issues Use of medias competitiveness Use of medias competitiveness

Other Nuclear Threats Attack on power plants Attack on material in transport Attack on academic facility

Which Device? Depends… Material available Amount & Type Amount & TypeIntent Cause harm or just panic Cause harm or just panic Desired outcome Deaths or disruption Deaths or disruption

Effectiveness Deaths/Injuries WeaponRDDSaltingEaster EggThreat

Effectiveness Panic/Disruption WeaponRDDSaltingEaster EggThreat

RDD Assessment: Location High profile Nationally significant Nationally significant Historically significant Historically significant High value High economic importance High economic importance Cost to replace/decontaminate Cost to replace/decontaminate Long-term impact Farmland Farmland

RDD Assessment: Nature Deny use Destroy value Create panic Kill/Injure Long-term concerns