Classification	Traditional Terrorrism Types	Bio/Chemical Terrorism	Cyber Terrorism	Nuclear Terrorism	Other Types of Terrorism

The Ex–Soviet Union is reported to have the remains of nuclear weapons that might represent a grave danger for the world in the future. It is important to maintain these radioactive materials away from the reach of any potential groups or individuals that could use them for criminal purposes. It is also important to keep good surveillance on nuclear plants. In 1994, the US Nuclear Control Institute recommended that all plants should be fortified to withstand attacks made with car-bombs.

The security in all countries of the world would be seriously threatened if nuclear weapons or radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) fell into the hands of violent terrorist groups. There is currently a black market for radioactive materials that could be used to manufacture dangerous weapons, also, the information needed to build such items as RDDs is readily available in online databases that almost anyone can browse anonymously. More information can be exchanged in encrypted messages through the Internet

So far, there exists no evidence of known terrorist groups acquiring or building these materials or weapons, however, due to the high risk that constitutes the availability of materials, information and assembled weapons, and the fact that a nuclear attack using Nuclear Explosive Devices (NEDs) would mean considerable damage and loss of lives, it is important that all governments step up their security and exert control over the markets where dangerous materials could be traded for or purchased.

A terrorist attack that uses RDDs, in contrast would likely cost less lives, but would cause a greater impact, due to the fact that a much greater area can be affected and it can be strategically chosen by the attackers to draw as much attention as possible, even though the material damage would be considerably less. However both, a nuclear attack using NEDs and an RDD attack would cause severe impact in the minds and souls of the victims.

It is more difficult to obtain the materials necessary to construct a NED than those to build an RDD. In the case of NED design and construction, considerable technical skills in explosives, electronics and nuclear chemistry and physics are needed as well as a vast amount of information and design blueprints for all the NED components, ideally obtainable only from classified literature. If a terrorist group has the means to hire apt technicians and obtains the materials, specifically plutonium and high enriched uranium (HEU), either by purchasing in other countries where legislation is not too strict, or by stealing them, and the necessary information, it can build a somewhat crude, but effective nuclear weapon that could cause immediate and severe ecological, psychological. sociological and physical damage without warning.

Impact of a Nuclear Terrorist Attack

All terrorist groups are restrained by the availability of nuclear materials. After the fragmentation of the Soviet Union, many nuclear scientists were left unemployed and traveled to other countries carrying them the knowledge to build nuclear weapons. Besides, a vast amount of material and assembled weapons were made more available.

Another weapon commonly used by nuclear terrorists is the Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), that is designed to spread radioactive materials over large areas. This weapon is sadly, very effective when used in urban areas, it doesn't cause material damage, but affects the environment and the targeted zone becomes inhabitable, being necessary to prepare and do a through cleanup that can cost from thousands to millions of US dollars depending on the size of the affected area.

Building of an RDD is considerably easier than building a NED and in some aspects, it is a more effective weapon to attract the attention of the authorities and to exert pressure on them, since the results of a radiological attack are more difficult to predict and large contaminated areas Terrorists have easy access to radioactive isotopes that can be found in small quantities in many commonplace objects, and create RDDs that can cause serious damage in an urban area and all effects are very difficult to predict and control since they are influenced by environmental factors like wind, temperature, humidity, etc. In this case the attackers would look for psychological impact on the population and attention from the media and the government, who would need to spend funds on a cleanup operation that is very costly, in order to coerce and attain their goals, which can be of many kinds: overthrowing a government, beginning a civil war and attacking or destroying a system perceived as contrary to the terrorists' beliefs.

Even the prevention of a radiological or nuclear attack and the implementation of security and possible relief measures in the case of an attack will have a negative effect on the population, heightening the fear and anticipation of the population, which is precisely what terrorists look for when they attack an area and what governments wish to avoid

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