Nonstate Actors, Terrorism, and Weapons of Mass Destruction

CBRN Incidents: Political Regimes, Perpetrators, and Targets

“…This combination is thought to pose the greatest threat of CBRN terrorism. 32 The odds ratio test, however, shows that religious=nationalists are not more likely than others to conduct CBRN incidents (see Table 8). Although the odds ratio is not significantly different than 1, the odds of such attacks by others is greater than that of religious=nationalist groups.…”

“…33 We cannot test this hypothesis directly because we cannot obtain data on concealed activities. However, the Monterey WMD database differentiates between incidents where the CBRN substance was actually used (classified as ''use of agent'') from those cases where the perpetrator only threatened to use a CBRN substance in their possession (classified as a ''threat with possession'').…”

CBRN Attack Perpetrators: An Empirical Study

“…Transnational terrorist groups can draw expertise and funding from abroad, thereby putting CBRN terrorism within their reach. Moreover, these transnational groups may be in a better position to obtain CBRN substances from laboratories and other facilities abroad (Blum et al. 2005).…”

“…At the outset, we must be clear about the relationship between CBRN and WMD terrorism. The terrorism literature has in a misleading fashion characterized WMD terrorism as terrorist events employing any mine, bomb, or device that releases chemicals, biological agent, or radiation in sufficient amount to cause deaths (Bunker 2000;Blum et al 2005). There is no requirement in the literature that mass casualties must result; the mere use of a CBRN device is sufficient to qualify as WMD terrorism.…”

“…Moreover, these transnational groups may be in a better position to obtain CBRN substances from laboratories and other facilities abroad (Blum et al 2005). Given their transnational orientation, such groups can stage a CBRN attack away from their home country, so that their nationals will not be in harm's way.…”