Heavier security needed to avert ‘dirty bomb’ threat, says UN

THE UN nuclear watchdog agency yesterday said stricter security measures are urgently needed to keep radioactive material out of the hands of terrorists, who could use it to wreak havoc with “dirty bombs”.

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.