New weapons, unstable nations, and terrorism are raising the nuclear stakes. Is a doomsday attack more likely? Here’s everything you need to know about the new nuclear arms race. Could terrorists acquire a nuke? It’s possible. Between 1995 and 2012, the International Atomic Energy Agency catalogued 2,200 attempts to steal or smuggle uranium. ISIS’s propaganda magazine has suggested buying a nuclear weapon in Pakistan and smuggling it into the U.S. Nuclear experts warn that an improvised device could be fitted into an SUV-size shipping container. Ports and airports are fitted with radiation sensors, but they only work at very close range. Another potential threat is a “dirty bomb” — a regular explosive device that would spray radioactive material over a blast zone, exposing thousands of people to radiation and turning an entire city into an uninhabitable ghost town. Authorities in Iraq are now searching for a sizable quantity of “highly dangerous” radioactive material stolen last year, which theoretically could wind up in the hands of ISIS.
The Week 27th Feb 2016 read more »
A Trident whistleblower has claimed a fake ID is ‘all it takes’ to gain access to Britain’s nuclear weapons. William McNeilly, a former Royal Navy submarine engineer, also alleged thousands of Royal Navy IDs go missing every year and could be used to access a nuclear submarine.
Mirror 27th Feb 2016 read more »