nuclear-news

Global risk of nuclear materials being obtained by terrorists

“Another risk is nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists. Some people do not believe this is a real risk. But the IAEA has a database and, on average, every two days we receive information about the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials or radioactive materials and this may only be the tip of the iceberg.”

Nuclear Watchdog Chief Warns of Nukes Falling Into the Wrong Hands, By Amy Kellogg January 27, 2011  FoxNews.com “……Among those worried about funding his project in this tight environment is Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.

He is here at the World Economic Forum making the case for his agency. “We are aware of the difficulties of countries (who fund the IAEA). I need to strike a good balance of the needs of the agency and the capacity of countries to contribute.”

Amano is also here to make sure political leaders at this global meeting are fully aware of some of the risks we all face in the area of nuclear proliferation. He does not just mean North Korea and Iran……..

“Another risk is nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists. Some people do not believe this is a real risk. But the IAEA has a database and, on average, every two days we receive information about the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials or radioactive materials and this may only be the tip of the iceberg.”

Amano would not specify where the “loose nukes” threat lies, only saying that terrorists target the weakest link in the network. There have been cases of arrests in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, through which people have attempted to smuggle small amounts of highly enriched uranium. Georgia has an active task force that is vigorously following the trade in illicit materials, with effect.

Amano told Fox News, “Nowadays, with the current level of world technology, terrorists can make nuclear weapons — well, dirty bombs, at least.”…….

Nuclear Watchdog Chief Warns of Nukes Falling Into the Wrong Hands – FoxNews.com

January 28, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, safety