Heavier security needed to avert ‘dirty bomb’ threat, says UN
Opening an international conference on dirty bombs, International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed El-Baradei said the September 11 attacks had shown terrorists were not afraid to handle deadly radioactive material to construct such a bomb.
“Given the apparent readiness of terrorists to disregard their own safety, the personal danger from handling powerful radioactive sources can no longer be seen as an effective deterrent,” he said.
US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said terrorists were prepared to “employ technology never intended for use as weapons to murder thousands in the most shocking and ruthless way”.
Dirty bombs are made by attaching radioactive material to a conventional explosives to spread it over a wide area.
Mr El-Baradei said a dirty bomb might not kill but the most severe impact would be “panic and social disruption associated with exposure to radiation.
