Al qaeda nuclear terrorism pdf

Our initial goal in this study was to describe a framework for understanding how best to deter terrorists, particularly extremists targeting the united states and its interests more specifically, we were asked to identify those things that terroristsin particular, members of al qaedahold. Al qaeda has nuclear weapons a month after september 11, senior bush administration officials were told that an al qaeda terrorist cell had control of a 10kiloton atomic bomb from russia and were plotting to detonate it in new york city. Joyner abstract nuclear terrorism poses a grave threat to national security, a fact dramatically demonstrated on 11 september 2001 by alqaedas attacks against the world trade center and the pentagon. Crs issue brief for congress received through the crs web order code ib10119. It is the ultimate nightmare scenario for intelligence agencies engaged in the war on terrorism. Alqaeda has sought nuclear weapons for almost two decades by attempting to purchase stolen nuclear material and weapons and has sought nuclear. For example, said ali alshihri, who was repatriated to saudi arabia in 2007, graduated from the saudi deradicalization program. Cia director george tenet told president bush that the source, codenamed dragonfire, had said. In 2003, coalition forces in afghanistan recovered plans for. They overcame a 10,000volt security fence, entered without setting off an alarm, broke into the emergency control center, shot a worker, and escaped. However, the 1993 bombing of the world trade center involved nonal qaeda players and leadership figures from that event are still active.

The national bureau of asian research in cooperation with. The goal was to strengthen international cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism. This is just one example of a nonal qaeda terrorist group that might become a perpetrator of nuclear terrorism. Request pdf the impossible challenge of deterring nuclear terrorism by al qaeda deterring al qaeda from using a nuclear weapon, should it acquire one. Al qaeda, whose leader declared acquisition of nuclear and chemical weapons to be a religious duty, had a focused nuclear weapons effort that reported directly to ayman alzawahiri now the groups leader. But one document labeled super bomb appears to be a plan for a nuclear device experts say is unworkable. They were removed from the list for fear it might get out of hand, but future attacks were not ruled out.

Alqaeda defector alfadl, who was a former member of qatar charity, testified in court that abdullah mohammed yusef, who served as qatar charitys director, was affiliated to alqaeda and simultaneously to the national islamic front, a political group that gave alqaeda leader osama bin laden harbor in sudan in the early 1990s. Recent developments there is now intense national and international attention to the risks of nuclear terrorism. From the decimation of alqaeda to the iran deal and the nuclear security summits, difficult actions taken by courageous and hardworking. The author of king of bombs stated that, the 911 commission warned in its original report that alqaeda was doing everything in its power to obtain nuclear weapons, and that the danger of nuclear terrorism is the number one national security threat to the united states. Al qaeda created a dedicated program to develop nuclear weapons led by ayman alzawahiri, the groups current leader. This organization is considered as a top threat for the world super power united states of america. It argues that al qaedas leadership employs terroristic violence in a manner calculated to achieve a set of political goals. Al qaeda weapons of mass destruction threat belfer center for. They are, in other words, rational actors who are sensitive to the potential costs and benefits associated with their actions, and.

Al qaeda has nuclear weapons a month after september 11, senior. The manual was found in a computer file described as the military series related to the declaration of jihad. May 15, 2018 while osama bin ladens deputy, zawahiri, succeeded him as head of alqaeda, and while several of the key operatives including abdel aziz al masri, who led the organizations nuclear program, remain missing, the deadly pursuit of the entire roster of the organization by collaborative intelligence, special operations forces, and drones has. President obama, along with nearly fifty world leaders, discussed the threat of nuclear terrorism, what steps needed to be taken to mitigate illicit nuclear trafficking, and how to secure nuclear material. Nbr analysis carnegie endowment for international peace. The attached manual was located by the manchester england. Al qaeda has likewise shown an interest in radiological as well as chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. The al qaeda network today also comprises semiautonomous or self radicalized actors, who often have only peripheral or ephemeral ties to either the core cadre in pakistan or affiliated groups elsewhere.

Concerned that al qaeda could have smuggled a nuclear weapon into. Al qaedas interest in using wmd against the united states began well before. State the potential for radiological terrorism by alqaeda. Aug 17, 2016 concerns about nonconventional terrorism at the rio summer olympics, and reports that persons involved in the november 2015 islamic state is attack in paris had conducted video surveillance of a scientist employed at the belgian nuclear research center, have revived fears that terrorist groups may be interested in building a dirty bomb using radioactive materials also referred to. A scenario for jihadist nuclear revenge federation of. Nov 16, 2010 second, al qaeda has reckoned with the horrific scale of a nuclear attack.

Policy brief march 2019 combating complacency about nuclear. Although the details of alshihris return to terrorism have not been publicly released, the saudi. Al qaeda had a focused nuclear weapons program and repeatedly attempted to buy stolen nuclear bomb material and recruit nuclear expertise. Robert mueller also reportedly wakes up in the middle of the night worrying about an al qaeda nuclear strike kessler 2007, 221, and bill keller of the new york times has complained about a similar disorder. North korea, iran and alqaeda in nuclear terror plot. The middle east and north africa presents a next generation of proliferation challenges for the u. Al qaeda is an international terrorist organization, which was formed in august 1988. The impossible challenge of deterring nuclear terrorism. Al qaeda agents have tried to buy uranium from south africa, and have made repeated trips to three central asian states to try to buy weapons grade material or complete nuclear weapons. Some members of al qaeda may have dreamed about getting nuclear weapons. A reporter for aljazeera, the arab news network, said on a 60 minutes ii broadcast in april 2003 that mohammed told him in an interview that alqaedas first choice of a target was nuclear facilities.

Most analysts also ignore the dynamic of crisis instability use it or. Within this relatively small set, three cases stand out as instructive. The impossible challenge of deterring nuclear terrorism by al. After alshihris release, he became the deputy leader of al qaeda in yemen. According to a senior intelligence official, al qaeda is not. Nuclear terrorism could take several forms, from an attack on nuclear power plants. This article takes issue with the frequentlymade assertion that al qaeda cannot be deterred from employing weapons of mass destruction. Six months earlier the cias counterterrorism centre had picked up chatter in al qaeda channels about an american hiroshima. The efforts of the alqaeda network to obtain nuclear weapons or weapons. Berger international centre for counter terrorism the hague william braniff start consortium, university of maryland cole bunzel incepr ton univ ersity daniel byman brookings institution and georgetown university jennifer cafarella.

Jul 18, 2005 it is the ultimate nightmare scenario for intelligence agencies engaged in the war on terrorism. As al qaeda in the islamic maghreb and al shabaab continue to grow, they may present a threat of nuclear terrorism to opposition in the area. Although nonstate actors have never successfully acquired a nuclear weapon, documented attempts demonstrate some groups are interested in nuclear terrorism. Are terrorist groups interested in carrying out nuclear attacks. Pdf aum shinrikyo, al qaeda, and the kinshasa reactor. The wests and the saudis dependence on oil has made the energy sector a target for alqaeda. Aum shinrikyos attempt to purchase nuclear weapons from highlevel russian officials in the 1990s, al qaeda s alleged efforts to purchase nuclear weapons and material from various sources throughout the 1990s, and the 1970s theft of nuclear material from the kinshasa.

Today, for example, the threat of nuclear terrorism is primarily associated with osama bin laden and his followers, who have not only pursued these weapons for some time, but have expressed their willingness to use them against their enemies. In 2002, an american convert to islam, jose padilla, was arrested for plotting to build a radiological weapon after returning from an al qaeda training camp in pakistan. Dec 19, 2005 the author of king of bombs stated that, the 911 commission warned in its original report that al qaeda was doing everything in its power to obtain nuclear weapons, and that the danger of nuclear terrorism is the number one national security threat to the united states. Al qaeda went as far as carrying out crude tests of conventional explosives. Middle east and africa congressional research service summary after a more than a decade and a half of combating al qaeda aq in afghanistan and pakistan.

Since the us invasion of afghanistan in 2001, however, al qaeda has lost a key. The second case study examines al qaedas nuclear activities. Alqaedas training manual lists nuclear plants as among the best targets for spreading fear in the united states. It also showed that two unnamed nuclear power stations were the original targets of the september 11 plot, known to its perpetrators as the holy tuesday operation, but al qaida feared that such an. Nuclear terrorism fact sheet april 2010 weapons worth of heu is stored. Most of the principles relate to increasing the range of ways to counter al qaeda and terrorism more generally. In 2002, an american convert to islam, jose padilla, was arrested for plotting to build a radiological weapon after returning from an alqaeda training camp in pakistan. Alqaeda agents have tried to buy uranium from south africa, and have made repeated trips to three central asian states to try to buy weapons grade material or complete nuclear weapons. Deterring al qaeda from using a nuclear weapon, should it acquire one, is a harder challenge than analysts have argued. The potential for radiological terrorism by alqaeda and the. Preemptive use of military force against foreign terrorist groups and infrastructure gained increasing acceptance in administration.

The possibilities that al qaeda might acquire the materials and the knowledge for building nuclear weapons or dirty bombs or might attack commercial nuclearpower facilities to trigger a nuclear meltdown, are of particular concern. Concerns about nonconventional terrorism at the rio summer olympics, and reports that persons involved in the november 2015 islamic state is attack in paris had conducted video surveillance of a scientist employed at the belgian nuclear research center, have revived fears that terrorist groups may be interested in building a dirty bomb using radioactive materials also referred. The impossible challenge of deterring nuclear terrorism by al qaeda article in studies in conflict and terrorism 338. The prevalent al qaeda affiliates in this region must be monitored and sustained to prevent any nuclear threats they may pose in the future. How institutions protect against the threat of nuclear terrorism scott d. Country reports on terrorism 2018 is submitted in compliance with title 22 of the united states code, section 2656f the act, which requires the department of state to provide to congress a full and complete annual report on terrorism for those countries and groups meeting the criteria of. Aum shinrikyos attempt to purchase nuclear weapons from highlevel russian officials in the 1990s, al qaedas alleged efforts to purchase nuclear weapons and material from various sources throughout the 1990s, and the 1970s theft of nuclear material from the kinshasa. Munro professor of political science, the mimi and peter haas university fellow in undergraduate education, and senior fellow at the center for international security and cooperation and. Implications of three case studies for combating nuclear terrorism. The potential for radiological terrorism by alqaeda and.

Suggestions for deterrence based on punishment have severe limitations. This is an independent battle that we must launch side by side with the military battle. Al qaeda, deterrence, and weapons of mass destruction. The article discusses past and current threats to the energy sector and the motives, capabilities and limitations of alqaeda in the arab peninsula and beyond. Al qaeda is responsible for many attacks throughout the world with its extensive and effective networks. Alqaeda and weapons of mass destruction sammy salama and lydia hansell the prospect of terrorists deploying weapons of mass destruction wmd is often referred to as the foremost danger to american national security. Like aum, al qaeda had the motivation, financial means, and physical security to pursue an acquisition program. Predictions of al qaedas imminent demise are rooted more in.

The possibilities that al qaeda might acquire the materials and the knowledge for building nuclear weapons or dirty bombs or might attack commercial nuclear power facilities to trigger a nuclear meltdown, are of particular concern. Al qaeda is not a state, has no clear command authority, and has no clear nuclear weaponsemployment doctrine. Alqaeda and weapons of mass destruction james martin center. The al qaeda manual the attached manual was located by the manchester england metropolitan police during a search of an al qaeda members home. Russia joint threat assessment on nuclear terrorism pdf. Alqaeda training manual open pdf 4 mb the manual was located by the manchester england metropolitan police during a search of an al qaeda members home. The jihadi threat isis, al qaeda, and beyond robin wright united states institute of peace woodrow wilson center j. Alqaedas quest for nonconventional weapons, 19962006. The jihadi threat united states institute of peace. Preventive actions taken since 2004, both in counterterrorism and in counterproliferation, have been extraordinary. Threat of nuclear and wmd 121 presence in the holy land and in the middle east in general as declared by osama bin laden himself, has been one of the primary reasons for the al qaeda s terrorist operations against us. Al qaeda defector al fadl, who was a former member of qatar charity, testified in court that abdullah mohammed yusef, who served as qatar charitys director, was affiliated to al qaeda and simultaneously to the national islamic front, a political group that gave al qaeda leader osama bin laden harbor in sudan in the early 1990s. The impossible challenge of deterring nuclear terrorism by.

Nuclear terrorism fact sheet university of illinois. Nuclear terrorism refers to any person or persons who detonate a nuclear weapon in an act of. Brachman we must get our message across to the masses of the nation and break the media siege imposed on the jihad movement. Feb 09, 2002 al qaeda agents have tried to buy uranium from south africa, and have made repeated trips to three central asian states to try to buy weapons grade material or complete nuclear weapons. From the decimation of al qaeda to the iran deal and the nuclear security summits, difficult actions taken by courageous and hardworking americans and others have prevented the future we feared.

Nuclear terrorism is a low probability, high consequence threat. Neither is the assumption based on a critical or objective analysis of the role of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear cbrn weapons in alqaedas ideology and strategy. The only terrorist group to actually indulge in such dreams has been the japanese millennial group aum shinrikyo. Alqaeda has likewise shown an interest in radiological as well as chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. The briefing sent president bush though the roof causing him to order his national security team to give nuclear terrorism priority over every other threat to. The terrorist attacks on september 11, 2001 by al qaeda accentuated the threatening nexus of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. Policy brief march 2019 combating complacency about.