THE THREAT OF MEGATERRORISM : AVAILABILITY, INHIBITORS AND MOTIVATION
THE THREAT OF MEGATERRORISM : AVAILABILITY, INHIBITORS AND MOTIVATION

Summary/Abstract: Th e prospect of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) terrorism poses a dangerfor contemporary societies. However, the incidents related to an application of weapons of massdestruction (that is, nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological weapons) by non-state actorsare relatively rare. Th e aim of the paper is to present recent incidents and to estimate the threatfrom particular types of WMD. Th e author focuses both on the question of motivation to undertakethese operations and on the problem of technological capabilities.To sum up, the risk of a massive WMD terrorist attack should be perceived as quite moderatedue to the technological barrier, but selective attacks carry a greater potential risk because oftheir higher probability and signifi cant psychological eff ect.

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