Editing Dirty bomb (section)

=== Possibility of use by terrorist groups ===
The first attempt of radiological terror was reportedly carried out in November 1995 by a group of [[Chechen–Russian conflict|Chechen separatists]], who buried a [[caesium-137]] source wrapped in explosives at the [[Izmaylovsky Park]] in [[Moscow]]. A Chechen rebel leader alerted the media, the bomb was never activated, and the incident amounted to a mere [[publicity stunt]].<ref>King (2004)</ref><ref name = february>{{cite web|url = https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dirtybomb/chrono.html |work=NOVA|title= Chronology of events|first1= Lexi |last1=Krock |first2= Rebecca|last2= Deusser|date = February 2003}}</ref> In December 1998, a second attempt was announced by the Chechen Security Service, who discovered a container filled with radioactive materials attached to an explosive mine. The bomb was hidden near a railway line in the suburban area [[Argun, Chechen Republic|Argun]], ten miles east of the Chechen capital of [[Grozny]]. The same Chechen separatist group was suspected to be involved.<ref>Edwards (2004)</ref><ref name = february/>

On 8 May 2002, [[José Padilla (prisoner)|José Padilla]] (a.k.a. Abdulla al-Muhajir) was arrested on suspicion that he was an al-Qaeda terrorist planning to detonate a dirty bomb in the U.S. This suspicion was raised by information obtained from an arrested terrorist in U.S. custody, [[Abu Zubaydah]], who under interrogation revealed that the organization was close to constructing a dirty bomb. Although Padilla had not obtained radioactive material or explosives at the time of arrest, law enforcement authorities uncovered evidence that he was on reconnaissance for usable radioactive material and possible locations for detonation.<ref>Ferguson et al. (2003); Hosenball et al. (2002)</ref> It has been doubted whether José Padilla was preparing such an attack, and it has been claimed that the arrest was highly politically motivated, given the pre-9/11 security lapses by the [[CIA]] and [[FBI]].<ref>Burgess (2003); King (2004)</ref>

In 2006, [[Dhiren Barot]] from North London pleaded guilty of conspiring to murder people in the United Kingdom and United States using a radioactive dirty bomb. He planned to target underground [[car park]]s within the UK and buildings in the U.S. such as the [[International Monetary Fund]], [[World Bank]] buildings in [[Washington D.C.]], the [[New York Stock Exchange]], [[Citigroup]] buildings and the [[Prudential Financial]] buildings in [[Newark, New Jersey]]. He also faces 12 other charges including, [[conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]] to commit [[public nuisance]], seven charges of making a record of information for terrorist purposes and four charges of possessing a record of information for terrorist purposes. Experts say if the plot to use the dirty bomb was carried out "it would have been unlikely to cause deaths, but was designed to affect about 500 people".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6044938.stm | work=BBC News | title=Man admits UK-US terror bomb plot | date=2006-10-12 | access-date=2010-04-01}}</ref>

In January 2009, a leaked FBI report described the results of a search of the Maine home of James G. Cummings, a [[white supremacy|white supremacist]] who had been shot and killed by his wife. Investigators found four one-gallon containers of 35 percent hydrogen peroxide, uranium, thorium, lithium metal, aluminium powder, [[beryllium]], boron, black iron oxide and magnesium as well as literature on how to build dirty bombs and information about caesium-137, strontium-90 and cobalt-60, radioactive materials.<ref>[http://www.bangornews.com/detail/99263.html Report: 'Dirty bomb' parts found in slain man's home] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214140020/http://bangornews.com/detail/99263.html |date=2009-02-14 }}, ''Bangor Daily News'', 10 February 2009</ref> Officials confirmed the veracity of the report but stated that the public was never at risk.<ref>[http://www.bangornews.com/detail/99310.html Officials verify dirty bomb probe results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213211427/http://bangornews.com/detail/99310.html |date=2009-02-13 }}, ''Bangor Daily News'', 11 February 2009</ref>

In July 2014, [[Islamic State of Iraq and Syria|ISIS]] militants seized {{convert|88|lb}} of uranium compounds from [[Mosul University]]. The material was unenriched and so could not be used to build a conventional fission bomb, but a dirty bomb was a theoretical possibility. Nonetheless, uranium's relatively low radioactivity makes it a poor candidate for use in a dirty bomb.<ref name="isis">{{cite magazine |first=Stephanie |last=Burnett |date=July 10, 2014 |url=https://time.com/2972050/iraq-terrorist-nuclear-materials-isis/|title=Iraqi 'Terrorist Groups' Have Seized Nuclear Materials |magazine=Time}}</ref><ref name="isis2">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/10/isis-seized-uranium-compounds-from-lab-experts-downplay-threat/|title=ISIS seizes uranium from lab; experts downplay 'dirty bomb' threat|website=[[Fox News]]|date=24 March 2015}}</ref>

Terrorist organizations may also capitalize on the [[Radiophobia|fear of radiation]] to create weapons of mass disruption rather than weapons of mass destruction. A fearful public response may in itself accomplish the goals of a terrorist organization to gain publicity or destabilize society.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book|title=Countering nuclear and radiological terrorism|last1=Samuel.|first1=Apikyan|last2=J.|first2=Diamond, David|last3=Greg.|first3=Kaser|date=2006-01-01|publisher=Springer|isbn=140204920X|oclc=209940539}}</ref> Even simply stealing radioactive materials may trigger a panic reaction from the general public. Similarly, a small-scale release of radioactive materials or a threat of such a release may be considered sufficient for a terror attack.<ref name=":02"/> Particular concern is directed towards the medical sector and healthcare sites, which are "intrinsically more vulnerable than conventional licensed nuclear sites".<ref name=":02"/> Opportunistic attacks may range to even kidnapping patients whose treatment involve radioactive materials. In the [[Goiânia accident]], over 100,000 people admitted themselves to monitoring, while only 49 were admitted to hospitals. Other benefits to a terrorist organization of a dirty bomb include economic disruption in the area affected, abandonment of affected assets (such a buildings, subways) due to public concern, and international publicity useful for recruitment.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|title=Terrorist "Dirty Bombs": A Brief Primer|last=Medalia|first=Jonathan|publisher=Congressional Research Service|pages=3–6}}</ref>