TERRORISM AND MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS:REALITY OR "DAMOCLES" EFFECT?

François Haut
Conférence prononcée lors de la rencontre World Terrorism and Political Violence, organisée par l'Université Victoria de Wellington (Nouvelle Zélande)
14-15 mai 2003

INTRODUCTION

I : NBC TERRORIST THREAT

A- Conventional attacks on NBC targets
B- NBC "weapons" and some examples of their use

II : LIMITS OF TERRORIST NBC THREAT

A- What acquisition limits for NBC weapons?
B- What technical limits of the use of NBC weapons for terrorist purposes?

III : POTENTIAL NBC TERRORIST TACTICS

A- NBC terrorism, a "Damocles effect"?
B- What issues?