Nuclear terrorism

The paper has analyzed different manifestations of terrorism with nuclear weapons and ionizing radiation as a special kind of terrorism. Possibilities that terrorist groups come into possession of nuclear weapons and apply them for terrorist purposes have been analysed. The forms and methods of terrorist activities with nuclear means have been given as well. It has been concluded that nuclear terrorism includes various forms of threats, including not only nuclear weapons but also the sources of ionizing radiation used for terrorist purposes. It has been also shown that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the countries signatories of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other international treaties seek to be an insurmountable obstacle to terrorist organizations aiming at the purchase of nuclear materials and equipment necessary for the construction of nuclear weapons.