World leaders meet in Washington to discuss nuclear terrorism

World leaders will gather in Washington to discuss how to prevent terrorists getting hold of radioactive material, with the UK set to play a leading role in protecting nuclear facilities from cyber attack.

The UK and US will take part in a joint exercise next year to prepare for any online attack against nuclear power plants and waste storage facilities.

David Cameron will also offer British expertise to other countries to safeguard their own civil nuclear installations amid fears Islamic State jihadists could attempt to create a dirty bomb.

The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), which is hosted by Barack Obama, will see heads of government consider their response to the nightmare scenario.

The recent terrorist attacks in Brussels have raised fresh concerns about the prospect of nuclear terrorism.

A UK government source said there was no “credible evidence” that terrorists were targeting British facilities.

But the cyber attack exercise with the US would ensure that both governments and their civil nuclear industries were prepared and could address any potential weaknesses.

The source said: “You saw just last week in Belgium concerns that were raised around the security of civil nuclear sites and therefore, in the world in which we currently live, we think it’s the right thing to do.”

The UK will also commit £10m this year to improve security standards around nuclear plants and waste facilities.