WHAT IS A TERRORIST ATTACK?
A terrorist attack is a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims.
WHAT ARE CHEMICAL WEAPONS?
Man-made agents (in gas or liquid form) which attacks the body’s nerves, blood, skin or lungs causing symptoms such as vomiting, blistering, loss of bodily control and in some cases death.
A chemical attack can affect the contaminated area for several minutes or several days (depending on factors like the concentration of the agent, whether the attack is indoors or outdoors and the weather).
WHAT ARE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS?
Harmful biological agents (such as a pathogenic microorganism or a neurotoxin) used as a weapon to cause death or disease usually on a large scale. Examples include a pathogenic attack which is capable of causing disease and neurotoxins which are an equally dangerous poisonous complex of protein that acts on the nervous system.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A NUCLEAR ATTACK
Blasts and shockwaves
The atmospheric air pressure surrounding a detonation can cause a blast or a shockwave, which can move at alarming speeds. Looking directly at the blast can cause temporary blindness, retinal burning and permanent eye damage. The blast can also kill those in its path, and a fallout shelter will not necessarily protect you against the terrific force of a blast.
Fire risk
The effect of the blast combined with the pulse of the nuclear weapon can result in the ignition of combustible materials, so fire is a high risk particularly in areas very close to the detonation.
Radiation
The initial radiation following the nuclear blast can prove particularly hazardous, especially to those in close proximity. This is the radiation that forms during the first minute following detonation. In addition to this, the electromagnetic radiation following the blast can damage or destroy electrical equipment, cables etc. Fallout is the often-radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere. There are three main types of radiation, and these are:
- Alpha - The outer layers of the skin normally stop alpha radiation from doing any external or internal damage. However, high quantities of ingestion or inhalation can result in internal damage.
- Beta – Beta radiation can cause skin burns if contaminated particles make contact with the skin. This type of radiation can be quite penetrative.
- Gamma - Gamma radiation is the most dangerous of the three, and can cause extensive internal and external damage, destroying organs, skin, bones and blood. In large doses gamma radiation can cause serious illness and death.
Different Types Of Nuclear Attacks:
- Fission Weapons
- Boosted Fission Weapons
- Thermonuclear Weapons
- Enhanced Radiation Weapons
- Salted Nuclear Weapons
- Pure Fusion Weapons
