Editing Nuclear terrorism (section)

==Incidents involving nuclear material ==
Information reported to the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) shows "a persistent problem with the illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials, thefts, losses and other unauthorized activities".<ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Features/RadSources/PDF/fact_figures2006.pdf IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105214132/http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/features/radsources/pdf/fact_figures2006.pdf |date=2014-11-05 }} p. 3.</ref> The IAEA Illicit Nuclear Trafficking Database notes 1,266 incidents reported by 99 countries over the last 12 years, including 18 incidents involving HEU or plutonium trafficking:<ref name="Bunn Secure" />

*There have been 18 incidents of theft or loss of [[highly enriched uranium]] (HEU) and [[plutonium]] confirmed by the IAEA.<ref name="harvard2010" />
*British academic Shaun Gregory alleged in 2009 that terrorists had attacked Pakistani nuclear facilities three times; twice in 2007 and once in 2008.<ref name="Dean" /> However, the then Director General [[Inter-Services Public Relations|ISPR]] [[Athar Abbas]] said the claims were "factually incorrect", adding that the sites were "military facilities, not nuclear installations".<ref name="Declan">{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Declan|title=Pakistan denies al-Qaida targeting nuclear facilities|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/aug/12/pakistan-nuclear-al-qaida|access-date=18 September 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=12 August 2009|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811225937/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/aug/12/pakistan-nuclear-al-qaida|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Dawn">{{cite news|title=Pakistan denies militants attacked nuclear sites|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/915933|access-date=18 September 2017|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|date=12 August 2009|archive-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728185403/https://www.dawn.com/news/915933|url-status=live}}</ref>
*In November 2007, burglars with unknown intentions infiltrated the [[Pelindaba]] nuclear research facility near [[Pretoria]], South Africa. The burglars escaped without acquiring any of the uranium held at the facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pretorianews.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20071109061218448C528585|title=IOL - Pretoria News|work=IOL|access-date=2009-11-25|archive-date=2022-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124004621/https://www.pretorianews.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20071109061218448C528585|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Washington Post, December 20, 2007, Op-Ed by [[Micah Zenko]]</ref>
*In June 2007, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] released to the press the name of [[Adnan Gulshair el Shukrijumah]], allegedly the operations leader for developing tactical plans for detonating nuclear bombs in several American cities simultaneously.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/feds-hoped-to-snag-bin-laden-nuke-expert-in-jfk-bomb-plot | work=Fox News | title=Feds Hoped to Snag Bin Laden Nuke Expert in JFK Bomb Plot | date=June 4, 2007 | access-date=June 16, 2009 | archive-date=November 6, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106152042/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,277614,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
*In November 2006, [[MI5]] warned that [[al-Qaida]] were planning on using nuclear weapons against cities in the United Kingdom by obtaining the bombs via [[clandestine operation|clandestine]] means.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1947295,00.html | location=London | work=The Guardian | first1=David | last1=Teather | first2=Gary | last2=Younge | title=Briton accused of trying to sell missiles | date=January 5, 2005 | access-date=November 18, 2006 | archive-date=October 13, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013235452/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1947295,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
*In February 2006, [[Oleg Khinsagov]] of Russia was arrested in Georgia, along with three Georgian accomplices, with 79.5 grams of 89 percent HEU.<ref name="harvard2010" />
*In November 2006, the [[Alexander Litvinenko poisoning]] with radioactive polonium "represents an ominous landmark: the beginning of an era of nuclear terrorism," according to Andrew J. Patterson.<ref>"Ushering in the era of nuclear terrorism," by Patterson, Andrew J. MD, PhD, ''Critical Care Medicine'', v. 35, p.953-954, 2007.</ref>
*In June 2002, U.S. citizen [[José Padilla (alleged terrorist)|José Padilla]] was arrested for allegedly planning a radiological attack on the city of [[Chicago]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/06/10/terror-arrest.htm|title=U.S. citizen arrested in 'dirty bomb' plot|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=2002-06-11|author1=Donna Leinwand|author2=Jack Kelley|access-date=2010-10-20|quote=A Defense Department official said [[Abu Zubaydah]], a top al-Qaeda official in U.S. custody, led U.S. authorities to Al Muhajir—possibly to try to sow fear in the United States by showing that al-Qaeda had recruited an American. Al Muhajir met Zubaydah in Afghanistan last year and then traveled to Pakistan, where he studied how to assemble a radioactive bomb at an al-Qaeda safe house in Lahore, a senior U.S. law enforcement official said. Weeks later, Al Muhajir met with senior al-Qaeda leaders in Karachi.|archive-date=2010-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715093054/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/06/10/terror-arrest.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-16-fg-terror16-story.html|title=Al Qaeda Gathering Strength in Pakistan|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=2002-06-16|author1=Bob Drogin|author2=Josh Meyer|author3=Eric Lichtblau|access-date=2010-10-20|quote=U.S. officials say that Padilla, who used the Muslim name Abdullah al Muhajir, studied bomb-making early this year at an Al Qaeda safe house in Lahore, met with senior Al Qaeda officials in March at another safe house in Karachi and traveled elsewhere in the country. Pakistani police arrested Padilla's alleged accomplice in [[Rawalpindi]]. Although Padilla's role was not known at the time, U.S. and Pakistani officials raided the Lahore safe house where he had stayed as well as suspected Al Qaeda compounds in several other cities March 28. Abu Zubeida [Abu Zubaydah], Al Qaeda's operations chief, and several of his senior aides were captured after a shootout that night at a house in Faisalabad.|archive-date=2011-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811114552/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/16/world/fg-terror16|url-status=live}}</ref> however, he was never charged with such conduct.  He was instead convicted of charges that he conspired to "murder, kidnap and maim" people overseas.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kelli|last=Arena|author2=Terry Frieden|author3=Phil Hirschkorn|title=Terror suspect Padilla charged|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/11/22/padilla.case/index.html|work=[[CNN]]|date=2005-11-22|access-date=2007-01-25|archive-date=2007-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219030405/http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/11/22/padilla.case/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>