The Threat of NBC Terrorism

Are we Really at Risk ? ? ?

DPT 8.0
 YES: Domestic Preparedness
Partnership Established 1996
The Nuclear Biologic and
Chemical Difference
DELTA

NBC DELTA Builds on:

Health care readiness for Mass Disasters
Existing skills: Medical Emergencies
HAZMAT Response
Extending these skills to include response
to a potential, deliberate terrorist event
DPT 8.0
 Objectives

To familiarize you with

Recent NBC events
The potential for terrorist use of NBC agents
Sources and hazards of NBC agents
Targets and indicators of NBC attacks
Outcomes of NBC terrorist events
So that you can recognize an NBC attack
and understand the potential impacts
DPT 8.0
 Potential Probability vs. Impact

NUCLEAR BIOLOGICAL
WEAPON AGENT

IMPROVISED
NUCLEAR
DEVICE
CHEMICAL AGENT
OR TOXIC
POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL
IMPACT RADIOACTIVE
CHEMICAL
MATERIAL

PROBABILITY/LIKELIHOOD

DPT 8.0
NBC Terrorist Incidents Since 1970
March 1995 Sarin
12 Dead, 5500 Affected

May 1995 April 1997

Plague U235
1972 June 1994 Sept 11, 2001
February 1997
Typhoid 1984 Sarin WTC-NYC
Chlorine
Salmonella 7 Dead, Pentagon-DC
14 Injured,
200 Injured 200 Injured 500 Evacuated 3000 Dead

70 75 80 85 90 95 00

1992 Cyanide June 1996 USA as ONGOING

1984 Uranium NBC target
Botulinum March 1995 Ricin
December 1995
April 1995 Ricin
1985
Sarin
Cyanide
April-June 1995 November 1995
Cyanide, Phosgene, Radioactive Cesium
Pepper Spray

DPT 8.0
Groups That Threaten

Lone individual
Identified local or non-
aligned terrorist groups
Internationally sponsored
Doomsday cults
Insurgents

DPT 8.0
 Why NBC Terrorism?

Agents are available & relatively easy to

manufacture
Large amount not needed in enclosed space
NBC incident difficult to recognize
Easily spread over large areas
Psychological impact
Can overwhelm existing resources

DPT 8.0
 Proliferation of Anthrax Hoaxes

Bnai Brith, Washington, D.C. Post Office, Columbus, GA

April 1997 Jan 1999
30 persons decontaminated 3 persons decontaminated

Indianapolis, IN NBC News Bureau, Atlanta, GA

Sep - Dec 1998 Jan 1999
10 incidents 3 blocks evacuated
multiple incident per day 12 persons decontaminated

Los Angeles, CA Washington Post

Sep 98 - Jan 99 & Old Executive Building
16 incidents Jan 1999
Estimated cost: $4 - 5 Million 2 incidents on same day

DPT 8.0
 Limitations of NBC Agents

Effective dissemination difficult

Delayed effects can detract from
impact
Counterproductive to terrorists support
Potentially hazardous to the terrorist
Development and use require skill
DPT 8.0
 NBC Agent Sources

Home production
Laboratory / commercial production
Industrial facilities
Foreign military sources
Medical / university research facilities

DPT 8.0
 Potential Terrorist Targets

Enclosed spaces
Large crowds (high profile events)
Critical facilities and infrastructure
Accessible facilities with significant
hazard / damage potential (materials in
transit)
Facilities of interest to terrorists cause

DPT 8.0
 The Fallacies

It cant happen to us
NBC agents are so deadly the
victims will all die anyway
There is nothing we can do

DPT 8.0
Practical Exercise
WHAT ARE THE
POTENTIAL TARGETS
IN OUR AREA?

WHY?
DPT 8.0
 Targets in OUR Area ?
State Capital

Old State House

Nuclear Plant

Airport
Alltel Arena Downtown
Chemical Arsenal
DPT 8.0
We are vulnerable ...

DPT 8.0