Search

The article discusses issues involving twin blasts near the Boston Marathon finish line on April 15, 2013. It is noted that actions of the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) to identify suspects and advising people to take "shelter-in-place" got mixed reactions from the public. It is informed that the incident also raised concern about possible threats from Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs).

The article examines the risks of containers being used to contain or build radiological dispersion devices or dirty bombs. The author narrates the story of Enzo Montagna, an independent consultant and radiation detection expert hired by the Italian government, who examined a cargo container in Genoa, Italy that was suspected to contain radioactive material. Accorsing to the author, since the 9/11 attacks, security experts have focused on containers as major risks.

The article discusses the information sharing from a series of relevant document on the expected roles of emergency responders, including their training and exercises. The document provides extensive information on decontamination of the radiological dispersal device (RRD) like dirty bombs with radioactive materials. It suggests that responders require a specialized training on emergency management to ensure an appropriate response.

The article discusses the impact of nuclear reactor disaster, caused by earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011 on human health and also focuses on threats it poses on such future nuclear accidents. It mentions that public authorities are concerned on how they could deal with potential terrorist incident or an accidental release resulting in a radiological dispersal event (RDE). It informs that nuclear accident harmed water, vegetable, and seafood in Japan.

This article discusses a threat posed by radiological dispersal devices (RDD) or dirty bombs. It discusses the release of radiation by dirty bombings and compares them to a threat of terrorists detonating a nuclear bomb. It also warns about fatalities caused by detonation of an RDD. The article expects terrorists to adopt dirty bombs as they are unable to steal or create and use a nuclear weapon.

The author reports on problems that exist with a program established in New York City designed to detect radiological threats, such as dirty bombs.

The article reports on a national antiterrorism exercise codenamed Great Wall 6 held by China in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from June 9 to 17, 2009. The exercise involved the disposal of a simulated dirty bomb during a mock terrorism drill participated by special police officers. The aim of the exercise was to test the capabilities of the regions to deal with terrorist attacks and other emergencies.

The article reports on the bomb parts found in the residence of James G. Cummings, member of the National Socialist Movement in Maine. It mentions there were radioactive and toxic materials, ingredients for making a dirty bomb found in Cumming's home after his death. In addition, he was killed by his wife due to mixing of toxic chemicals in their kitchen for creating a bomb. His wife, Amber Cummings, states his negative reactions after the winning of Barack Obama as President of the U.S.

The article reports on the examination of the possible dangers and potential responses to a radiological dispersal device. A test is conducted by U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to assess the search-response capabilities in a simulated radiological dispersal event of spread low-level radium and palladium in the desert. Provided is an examination of a radiological device and a sample of a "gold-standard" response to a radiological dispersal event (RDE).

The article discusses various radiological dispersal device (RDD) threat. It mentions that there are other groups besides Al-Qaeda that are equally willing to use radioactive sources as weapons. Moreover, there are organized crime groups that pose significant radiological threat, can obtain and sell radioactive sources to terrorists, and can punish their own members and attack government personnel and sites with radioactive materials. Samples of radioactive material attacks are also presented.

The article discusses the detection of dirty bombs. Dirty bombs are explosive devices which spread harmful or lethal radiation. The potassium 40 in bananas, smoke alarms, toilets, and granite buildings can set off radiation detectors which create a lot of false positives. Spectroscopic detectors have been designed which will distinguish between dangerous radiation and harmless beta rays.

The article focuses on the development of a neutron detector that could be used to detect attempts to smuggle radioactive materials. The detector, created by Charles Clark at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland, boasts the ability to detect neutrons over a range of intensities 100 times greater than previous methods. Clark believes it could help prevent dirty-bomb terrorism by detecting radioactive materials in cargo that x-rays can't.

The article discusses the report by the Copenhagen Consensus, an organization which researches public spending, which claims that the benefits of counter-terrorism spending do not justify the costs. According to the report, terrorism has a relatively small effect on the gross domestic product of nations. Counter-terrorism spending is likened to an expensive insurance policy for an unlikely dirty bomb attack. The report recommends international cooperation against terrorism.

The article talks about the issue of a dirty bomb, a conventional explosive combined with radioactive material. They claim that such a weapon would scatter the material far and wide, rendering a large area unlivable and turning rescue efforts into suicide missions. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission categorizes the dirty bomb not as a weapon of mass destruction, but as a weapon of mass disruption.

The article reports on the launch of a governmentwide effort to build a comprehensive forensic database of nuclear and radiological weapons in the U.S. The database will help the U.S. identify the supplier of nuclear weapons and those who help make the bombs. The National Technical Nuclear Forensic Center will lead the building of the database and will seek the cooperation of the world's nuclear powers in getting information. It will also act as a planning cell and coordination center for agencies involved in the effort.

The article reports on the position of U.S. authorities regarding a threat about the planned simultaneous detonation of dirty bombs at the National Football League (NFL) games. The news about the threat was posted on October 12, 2006. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and intelligence services analyzed the source of the threat and examined the technical feasibility of carrying it out. Although DHS initiated prudent security measures by informing and advising the NFL, it has determined the threat is unreliable.

The article reports on the guidelines developed by the Sandia and Brookhaven national laboratories in the U.S. for community preparedness in the event of dirty-bomb attacks. First responders need to take protective actions within the first 48 hours of the detonation of a radiological-dispersal device in a populated area. Five hundred explosive experiments were conducted over the past two decades in order to come up with the guidelines. They include ways to interpret radiation levels, triage exposed personnel and decide whether to shelter the public in place or evacuate them.

Presents news briefs on the nuclear industry as of June 2005. Release of the revised U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) fact sheet on dirty bombs; Need for sustained leadership to prevent terrorists from stealing nuclear bomb-making materials in Russia, according to a report released by the Nuclear Threat Initiative organization; Loss of several tritium exit signs from California State Polytechnic University, according to a report from the NRC.

The article focuses on the motion picture "Dirty War." directed and co-written by Daniel Percival. This gripping and resolutely sober BBC/HBO co-production envisages the planning, execution, and aftermath of a radiological "dirty bomb" attack by radical Islamists on London's financial district in England. The overall approach is procedural, with an emphasis on the shortcomings of emergency planning for such an eventuality, and throughout the action is presented from multiple points of view.

The article discusses a study conducted by researchers at the New York Academy of Medicine concerning what Americans would do in the event of a terrorist-induced smallpox outbreak or the detonation of a terrorist-delivered dirty nuclear weapon. The article discusses the civil-defense plans for a number of terrorist events, and contrasts them with answers from the study.

The article presents some facts. After a ten-year plunge, the average national rate of U.S. property crime leveled off in 2003. Property-crime rates nudged higher from 2002 to 2003 in households in the northeast, south, and Midwest. The rate declined slightly in the west, but that region maintains by far the highest rate of property crime. Revenues from close circuit TV and fire-detection equipment will drive a booming industrial and commercial security market in Central and Eastern Europe through 2010. Much of the fear of dirty bombs is a fear of the unknown. Security managers who wish to educate employees can turn to a fact sheet from the National Academies and the Department of Homeland Security of the U.S. It explains what dirty bombs are, and are not, what they do, what danger they present, and how people can protect themselves.

Explains that flawed security measures in U.S. ports can be exploited by terrorist to launch attacks on the country. Extent of vulnerability of the country's ports to terrorist attacks; Incapability of passive radiation detectors to distinguish dirty bombs; Assessment on the effectiveness of active detection systems.

Presents statistics on a range of subjects. Statistics on numbers of vacancies in the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security; Comparison of the numbers of cases of illegal trafficking of radiological materials in 1996 and 2003; Statistics on the number of children who always wear seat belts when riding in a car; Statistics on cancer survivors and new lung cancer cases.

Reports on the near completion of the Radioactive Source Registry Tracking database developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories. Characteristics of dirty bombs; Description of the database; Administrative agencies that can access the database.