Dutch look at "dirty bomb" scenario before summit
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Ahead of a summit of world leaders on nuclear security next week, Dutch experts are showing off techniques that could be used to prevent or respond to a terrorist attack with a "dirty bomb" — one that combines radioactive material with conventional explosives.
The key items, according to Hague Security Delta director Rob de Wijk, are the need for governments to know what resources are available and for nuclear scientists to collaborate with criminal investigators.
In a demonstration Thursday, experts from the Netherlands' Forensic Institute ran through the scenario of an attack in Rotterdam, Europe's largest port. Technology on display included fixed scanners capable of detecting radioactive material inside shipping containers on the back of moving trucks and a portable scanner to analyze hazardous material at a suspected crime scene.
