The security of transport of radioactive and nuclear material in Belgium

Abstract

This article describes and assesses the security of transport of radioactive and nuclear material in Belgium that has been boosted after the terrorist attacks in Brussels in 2016. The article looks at the different possibilities of terrorist attacks on transports of radioactive and nuclear material and the possible consequences: theft of radioactive material for use in a radioactive exposure device, a radioactive dispersal device, or an improvised nuclear weapon; or a conventional attack on a transport, releasing radiation into the environment. The focus on insider threat is a step forward, but it may not divert attention from regularly updating security measures against outsider threat. Some recommendations are provided to ensure continuous improvement in the transport of radioactive and nuclear material.