Radioactive Bombs Called Ideal for Terror

“Dirty bombs” that could contaminate cities with radioactivity are ideal for terrorists to incite panic and disrupt the economy, even though the weapons might not kill many people, U.S. nuclear officials said.

Such a weapon would rely on spreading industrial or medical-grade radioactive material in a populated area, causing widespread fear of exposure, the officials told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Citing concerns that radioactive materials could easily fall into terrorists’ hands, the officials recommended increased monitoring for radiation and more controls of such materials used in industry and medicine.