Terrorists May Use Hospital Technology to Create Bombs

According to ABC News, the Government Accountability Office was concerned when the realized the hospitals have been negligent in securing radioactive materials that are used to treat cancer patients. The materials have been left in accessible locations, where they could be picked up by terrorists and used to fashion dirty bombs. While authorities have identified no specific plot or target, they have warned Congress that hospitals need to be more careful with the dangerous radioactive materials that they are using to help, rather than hurt, patients.

The Director of National Resources and Environment at the GAO says that the facilities and equipment are very important, but need to be secured. Nearly four out of five hospitals in the U.S. have failed to put safeguards on their radiological materials. These materials could easily be manipulated to fashion what is known as a “dirty bomb.” More than 1,500 hospitals have been identified as having high-risk radiological resources. Only 321 of these hospitals have had security upgrades since obtaining their radiological materials and there are some gaping lapses of security in 26 of the hospitals.

The government is concerned that without proper security, it would be just too easy for terrorists to get their materials at the medical facility. In one hospital, a device that had radioactive cesium was stored behind a door with a combination lock. While this may sound secure, the combination for the lock was written on the door frame. This may have made it easier for the nurses and doctors to gain access to the machine, but also poses a huge threat. The National Nuclear Safety Administration has spent up to $105 million to complete security upgrades at some of the hospitals with high-risk radiological resources. If you stole components from a hospital and were charged with attempted terrorism or terrorism for your crime, then talk to a criminal defense lawyer to get representation today.