Brussels Attacks Spotlight Need for More Security at Nuclear Plants

Brussels Attacks Spotlight Need for More Security at Nuclear Plants

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Mar 25, 2016

The world can talk about nothing other than the security of our transit systems since the attacks on a Belgian airport and metro station, but through the transit chatter comes a new vulnerability that has security experts worried: nuclear plants.

In the aftermath of the attacks, Belgian authorities closed down two nearby nuclear plants, evacuating all but essential personnel. They feared that an attacker may be headed in that direction as part of their planned terrorist attacks. Authorities believed one of the plants was being targeted after they found out that two of the suspects had surveyed the area and secretly videotaped a top nuclear researcher there.

Dr. Page Stoutland of the Nuclear Threat Initiative told CBS News that if a nuclear plant was to come under attack there would be “a serious loss of life.” Stoutland believes that the news of the targeted nuclear plant will have countries all over the world re-evaluating their security plans involving the plants.

While there are more than 400 nuclear plants in the world, there is no indication that there are uniformed security measures to keep them from outside attack. In January, the Nuclear Threat Initiative ranked the overall nuclear security conditions in 45 countries. Finland has the most secure conditions, while Belgium was 19th and Iran and North Korea fell to last place. The U.S., Hungary and Switzerland all tied for 6th place.

While it is required that the 61 U.S. nuclear plants operate with armed guards, many of the nuclear facilities outside the U.S. don’t have any laws in place to protect them from outside attacks. Belgium had only upped their security to add armed guards a couple of months ago.

Stoutland also voiced her concerns about the increasing fear of cyberthreats within the nuclear plants. Many facilities have no plan in place to secure their online networks, that control their plant’s valves, pipes and temperature readings, among other things.

At the first ever nuclear summit in 2010 President Barack Obama addressed the security at nuclear plants.

“The most effective way to prevent terrorists and criminals from

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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