The weapons of mass

destruction terrorism
COL. ENGR. JANOS
TOMOLYA PhD

Defining WMD
Weapons that have a relatively large-scale impact on
people, property, and/or infrastructure.
(A) any destructive device , incendiary, or poison
gas(i.e. explosive device);
(B) any weapon that is designed or intended to cause
death or serious bodily injury through the release,
dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous
chemicals, or their precursors;
(C) any weapon involving a biological agent or toxin
(D) any weapon that is designed to release radiation
or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human
life.
CBRN weapons: chemical, biological, radiological,
nuclear

1) Chemical Weapons
Chemical Weapons use the toxic properties of chemical
substances to cause physical or psychological harm to
an enemy
Many different kinds, including:
Choking and blood agents (like chlorine, phosgene,
fentanyl gas) cause respiratory damage and
asphyxiation
Blistering agents (like mustard gas and lewisite)
cause painful burns requiring immediate medical
attention
Nerve gases degrade the functioning of the nervous
system, causing a loss of muscle control, respiratory
failure, and eventually death

Chemical Agents
Intended to kill, seriously injure, or
incapacitate people through
physiological effects
Incidents demand immediate
reaction from emergency responders
Can be introduced through aerosol
devices, breaking containers, or
covert dissemination

Types of Chemical
Agents
Choking

Blood

Blister

Nerve

Tear

Chlorine
Diphosgene
Cyanide
Nitrogen Oxide
Perflurorisobutylene
Phosgene
Red
Phosphorous
Titanium
Tetrachloride
Zinc Oxide

Arsine
Cyanogen
Chloride
Hydrogen
Chloride
Hydrogen
Cyanide

Distilled
Mustard
Lewisite
Mustard Gas
Nitrogen
Mustard
Phosgene
Oxime
Ethyldichloroarsine
Methyldichloroa
rsine

Cyclohexyl
Sarin
GE
Sarin
Soman
Tabun
VE
VG
V-Gas
VM
VX

Bromobenzylcyanide
Chloroacetophenone
Chloropicrin
CNB
CNC
CNS
CR
CS

Characteristics of an Incident
Involving a Chemical Agent
Effects mostly local to release site
but may be distributed beyond
release site by wind and
contamination
Area may be marked by unusual
clouds, haze, mist, odors, tastes,
droplets, etc.
May be persistent in environment

Indicators of Possible
Chemical Agent Use

Stated threat to release a chemical

agent
Initial unexplained casualties and
illnesses
Unusual liquid, spray or vapor
Suspicious devices or packages

2) Biological Weapons
Biological weapons intentionally disseminate
agents of infectious diseases to harm or kill others.
Key considerations include infectivity, virulence,
toxicity, pathogenicity, the incubation period,
transmissibility, lethality and stability.
* Bacteria (like Anthrax, Brucellosis, Tularemia,
Plague)
* Viruses (Smallpox, Marburg, Yellow Fever)
* Rickettsia (Typhus fever, Spotted fever)
* Fungi (the molds that cause stem rust of wheat
and rye)
- Relatively cost-effective weapons
* Toxinsby
(like
Botulinum
and
Saxitoxin)
- Considered
manyRicin,
to be the
most insidious
type
of weapons aka
midspectrum
* Infectious Pathogens:

Biological Agents
Recognition of a biological hazard can
occur through identification of a credible
threat, discovery of bioterrorism
evidence, diagnosis, and detection
Delay between exposure and onset of
illness
Victims may serve as carriers of the
disease with the capability of infecting
others
Could affect agricultural commodities over
a large area

Types of Biological
Agents
Bacteria
Anthrax
Q-Fever
Tularemia
Psittacosis
Glanders
Melioidosis
Brucellosis
Plague

Viruses
Dengue Fever
Equine Encephalitis
Hantaan
Congo-Crimean HF
Chikungunya
Variola
Ebola
Smallpox

Toxins
Botulinum
SEB
Perfringens
Ricin
Saxitoxin
Tetrodotoxin
Mycotoxins

Characteristics of an Incident
Involving a Biological Agent
Immediate effects mostly local to
release but may be expanded
distribution through human
transmittal
Possible persistence in environment
Possible geographic contamination

Indicators of Possible
Biological Agent Use
Stated threat to release a biological
agent
Initial unexplained deaths and illness
possibly beginning a day or more
after an incident
Unusual occurrence of dead or dying
animals
Unusual casualties
Unusual liquid, spray or vapor

Bioterrorism
The intentional or threatened use of
microorganisms or biological toxins to
kill or incapacitate people, animals or
crops.
Create terror, panic,
uncertainty/uneasiness
Advance political/ religious/ apocalyptic
beliefs
Asymmetrical response AKA even the
playing field
Doable and affordable
Effective

Criticality
Chemical
Effects are immediate
and obvious
Victims localized by
time and place
Overt
Illicit immediate
response
First responders are
police, fire, EMS

Biological
Effects are delayed
and not obvious
Victims are dispersed
in time and place
Covert
No first responders
Unless announced,
attack identified by
medical and public
health personnel

Advantages of biological weapons

Relatively easy to obtain
Relatively inexpensive to produce
Potential for dissemination over large
geographic area
Creates panic
Can overwhelm medical services
Perpetrators escape easily
Incubation period

3) Radiological weapons
A radiation emission device (RED) or a radiological
dispersion device (RDD) also known as a dirty bomb
is a bomb to cause panic and mass disruption; areas with
severe radioactive contamination would be uninhabitable
for many years.
Built using radioactive material (such as cesium 137,
cobalt 60, strontium 90, plutonium oxide and uranium
oxide), which is dispersed by the detonation of
conventional explosives.
Myriad sources of radioactive material could be used for
this purpose, like medical/educational facilities, atomic
waste storage reservations, commercial sites, etc.
Many lack strong security, especially medical facilities,
educational institutions
Can also acquire radioactive materials via mail order or
Internet

Radiological Sources

Seed Irradiators: Used in the

Former Soviet Union were
mounted on trucks and used to
irradiate seeds in order to kill
fungus and inhibit germination.
Each irradiator has activity
levels of over 1,000 curies of
cesium-137 in powdery form.

Radioisotope Thermoelectric
Generator: Used in the Former
Soviet Union to power light
houses in remote locations.
Many have become orphaned
sources and are unaccounted
for. RTGs can contain activity
levels of ~30,000 curies of
Strontium-90

Radiological Sources
Teletherapy Device (Cobalt-60 and Cesium-137)

Source activity: up to 10 kCi (370 TBq) 60Co.

4) Nuclear Weapons

Unique in their explosive

energy, derived from
nuclear fission: splitting
the nuclear of an atom,
usually of highly enriched
uranium or plutonium,
into two or more parts by
bombarding it with
neutrons, and causing a
chain reaction

Destructive power up to
50 megatons

1,000 tons of TNT = 1 kiloton

WWII nukes = 15-22 kilotons
1,000 kilotons = 1 megaton

2 types: Gun-type and

Implosion

The History
First major use in modern warfare (April 22, 1915);
during World War I, the German army released chlorine
gas in an attack against the French in Ypres, Belgium
About 124,000 tons of chemical weapons were used by all
sides during World War I, inflicting over a million casualties
(90,000 fatalities).
WWII examples of WMD include:
Italy used mustard gas against Ethiopians
Japan used intestinal typhoid bacteria to poison a
Soviet water supply
Japan used air cargo drops of rice and wheat mixed
with plague-carrying fleas over China and Manchuria

The Changing Environment

During the Cold War
Bipolar international system
Monopoly of WMD by strong, powerful
states
International treaties signed to curb WMD
proliferation
Stringent security surrounding atomic
material in US/USSR, mostly due to
concerns about spying, espionage
The Post-Cold War threat environment has
changed
Nuclear proliferation in South Asia, N.

Terrorists and WMD

Dozens of identified domestic and
international terrorists and terrorist
groups have expressed their intent
to obtain and use WMD.
- Denis Blair, Director of National
Intelligence, 2010
There is a high likelihood of some
type of WMD terrorist attack by the
year 2013.
- Commission on the Prevention of

The History
History of use by non-state actors includes:
1984, The Dalles, Oregon: Rajneeshes
poison locals with salmonella
June 1990, Sri Lanka: Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) used chlorine gas in its
assault on a Sri Lankan Armed Forces
camp at East Kiran
Japan, 1994-1995: Aum Shinrikyo uses
Sarin gas in Matsumoto and Tokyo
U.S., October 2001: anthrax attacks
through U.S. mail
Russia, 1995: Chechen rebels planted a
dirty bomb in Moscow's Ismailovsky Park

Emerging Threat Indicators

June 2003, a Jemiaah Islamiah weapons
storage facility in Malaysia is found to
contain various kinds of chemicals
April 1985, a compound of the Sword, the
Covenant and the Arm of the Lord is found
to have a 55-gallon barrel of cyanide
January 2003, an apartment in north
London is found to have raw ingredients
for making cyanide and ricin, as well as
instruction manuals
January 2004, seven pounds of cyanide
salt are found during a raid on a Baghdad
house reportedly connected with al Qaeda
November 2004, a chemical laboratory
is discovered in Fallujah containing
potassium cyanide, hydrochloric acid, and

The Changing Environment

Contemporary threat vectors include:
The transfer, theft and detonation of an intact nuclear
weapon (INW) by a terrorist group like al Qaida
WMD designs, instruction manuals available online
The theft or purchase of fissile material (by states or
terrorists) to fabricate and detonate a crude nuke an
improvised nuclear device (IND)

Pre-positioned WMD

Nuclear power plants

Chemical storage facilities
Bio-technology labs
Dams, water protection infrastructure (e.g., Katrina)
Urban transportation of toxic chemicals

A Model for Analysis

Intentions
High

High
Low

Low

Capabilities &
Opportunities

Motivations
A Spectrum of Ideologies
Threshold
of
catastrophi
c violence
Nonviolent
Protests

Groups that want to

change the world, but
reject the need for
violent means

Apocalyptic
Terrorism

Groups that want

to change the
world, and see a
need for violent
means

Groups that want

to destroy the
world, for various
reasons,
possibly with WMD

Weapon Effects
Different interests according to weapon
type
Biological and chemical weapons can be
deployed silently. Effects produced by
chemical and biological weapons are
usually delayed and spread over time.
Radiological weapons involve both
explosion and long-term effects
Nuclear weapons are unique in their
explosive energy (derived from fission)
which can cause catastrophic damage and
long-term radiation

Differences Between WMD Incidents

and Other Incidents
1

1. Situation may not be recognizable until

there are multiple casualties
2. There may be multiple events
3. Responders are placed at a higher risk of
becoming casualties
4. The location of the incident will be
treated as a crime scene
5. Contamination of critical facilities and
large geographic areas may result

Differences Between WMD

Incidents and Other Incidents

6. Scope of the incident may expand

geometrically and may affect mutual aid
jurisdictions
7. There will be a stronger reaction from
the public than with other types of
incidents
8. Time is working against responding
elements
9. Support facilities are at risk as targets
10.Specialized State and local response
capabilities may be overwhelmed

Types of Terrorist Threats to

Transportation Facilities
Structural/functional damage/destruction
resulting from portable, truck-or boatborne explosives and fire damage
Casualties from blast or fire
System shutdown via exposure and
contamination from biological and/or
chemical WMD, e.g., introduced through
tunnel vents
Collateral damage to other lifelines, e.g.,
telecommunications, power, and pipelines
carried along bridges or tunnels

Radiological Agents/Nuclear
Weapons
An attack may be difficult to detect the presence of radioactive material
may or may not be obvious
Different devices may be used to
launch an attack:
Improvised Nuclear Device (IND)
Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
Simple RDD

 Beta Radiation
Slight or Internal
hazard

Gamma Radiation
Acute hazard

Beta
Particle
Gamma
Rays

LEAD

Internal hazard

Alpha
Particle

SKIN

Alpha Radiation

PAPER

Types of Nuclear Radiation Emitted

From Radioactive Materials

Indicators of Possible
Radiological Agent/Nuclear Weapon Use
(e.g., dispersion of radioactive material by non-nuclear
explosion or pressurized gas, nuclear detonation with
radioactive fallout)

A stated threat to deploy a nuclear

or radiological device
Unexplained deaths and illness
The presence of nuclear or
radiological equipment (e.g., spent
fuel canisters or nuclear transport
vehicles)
Nuclear placards or warning
materials along with otherwise
unexplained casualties

Characteristics of an Incident Involving a

Radiological Agent or Nuclear Weapon
Effects mostly local to release but may
be some distribution via, e.g, wind
beyond release site
Persistence in environment
Geographic contamination
Extensive radioactive fallout
Radioactive poisoning of foodstuffs,
water sources and long-term illnesses
Large-scale infrastructure destruction
Conventional explosive used for
dispersal may cause additional effects
and explosions

Conventional Explosive
Devices
Easiest to obtain and use
May be used to cause massive local
destruction or to disperse chemical,
biological or radiological agents
Characterized as being explosive or
incendiary, employing high or low
filler explosive materials to explode
and/or cause fires

High Explosives

RDX
ANFO (Ammonium nitrate fuel oil solution)
Potassium Chlorate
Nitrostarch Explosives
Picric Acid (Tri-Nitro-Phenol)
Ammonium Picrate (Explosive-D)
Lead Azide
Dynamite

Relative Destructive Forces of

Explosives

Explosive Detonation Overpressure

Type
Velocity
Conversion
(km/s)
Factor

Charge
Required

TNT

6.94

1 lb.

RDX

8.64

1.3

0.75 lbs.

ANFO

0.4

2.4 lbs.

Vehicle Bomb Explosion

Effects

Source: Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agency website

Summary
Proliferation of WMD (or CBRN weapons)
is among the worlds most daunting
security challenges
U.S. and International community
struggling to contain the spreading
availability of WMD
No IAEA-like watchdog for chemical or
biological weapons
Multiple countries are seeking to expand
their WMD capabilities
Scientific expertise and dual-use
technological equipment become more
readily available through globalization

Final Thoughts
The threat is real, but within narrow
parameters
Most important dimensions for
terrorists:

Motivations
Materials availability
Knowledge
Opportunities
Weapons attributes

References
Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning,
State and Local Guide (101), Chapter 6, Attachment GTerrorism, FEMA, April 2001
Emergency Response to Terrorism, Self-Study,
FEMA/USFA/NFA-ERT:SS, June 1999
Surface Transportation Vulnerability Assessment, U.S.
DOT, RSPA, Volpe Center, Oct. 25, 2001
A Guide to Highway Vulnerability Assessment for
Critical Asset Identification and Protection,
http://security.transportation.org/community/security/gu
ides.html
FEMA: Concept of Operations Plan Situation,
www.fema.gov/rrr/conplan/conpln3b.shtm
Various other WMD related websites

Questions?

UNCLASSIFIED