Terrorism manifests in many forms. Sri Lanka is an island. Various chemical substances enter the country through the airports and through the sea ports. Also due to the strategic location of Sri Lanka ships with various containers of chemical substances arrive at Colombo Port. The risk of chemical reactions rising to hazardous levels is more likely to occur and remains a challenge. In view of this, the National Authority for the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Sri Lanka has taken various measures to prevent possible accidents from chemical agents within Sri Lanka. We, as a nation, have witnessed many forms of terrorism and radicalized extremism. Globally, the main security focus is the protection of radioactive material and secure transportation of the same. If such material falls into the hands of criminal or terrorist groups in the future, we will have to face dangerous consequences.
Radiological terrorism is a rising trend globally. Terrorist organisations have mastered the art of weaponizing radioactive material. There are three ways in which they can unleash this terror- Improvised Nuclear Device (IND that creates massive explosion force and radiation), Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD or commonly known as dirty bombs) and Radiological Exposure Devices (RED). The threats posed by CBRN weapons in both Europe and Asia have been highlighted by their use in assassinations and assassination attempts. Further dimensions of threat arise when considering potential CW use in mass impact terrorist attacks such as the nerve gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1994 and 1995 by the Aum Shinrikyo cult. Their most recent use on a large-scale has occurred in Syria, where various types of chemicals and delivery methods have been used by both State and non-State actors since 2013.
The RED is a terrorist device intended to expose innocent people to significant doses of ionizing radiation without their knowledge. A RED can be hidden in a public place such as a food court or a shopping mall. Examples of radioactive dissemination techniques include postal packages, spray devices, commercial crop dusters, air conditioning systems, cooling fans and direct injection. A radioactive incident can also occur when a facility that stores radioactive material is attacked. However, it must be mentioned that stealing such material is no easy task as the terrorist can be exposed to the material and be dead in a few minutes or a few days.
STF response
One of the first local agencies to realize the threat of CBRNE is the Special Task Force (STF) of the Sri Lanka Police. CBRNE stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive. The first four elements can be used individually to create a large number of casualties and can be coupled with the fifth element of explosives to double the impact.
The STF, with the guidance and collaboration of the US Department of Energy, National Nuclear Systems Administration (NNSA), Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Office of Radiological Security (ORS), Global Materials Security and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council (SLAERC) had built the nation’s first Central Monitoring Station at Katukurunda in October 2019.
Radiation occurs naturally and is also manmade. In a nutshell, radiation is the energy emitted from excited atoms. Common manifestations of radiation are found in light, heat, radio waves and microwaves – but these do not pose a threat to national security. The imminent danger lies in ionizing radiation. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has four category rankings for radioactive materials, with Category One being the highest risk where exposure for a few seconds can cause death and permanent injury. This is why radioactive material must be controlled. Globally, nuclear materials like plutonium and enriched uranium are used to power submarines and industrial reactors.
Common radioactive materials include Cobalt 60, Cesium 137 and Strontium 90. Radioactive material is used in medical treatment to irradiate cancer. It is also used in brachytherapy needles and tiny seeds that are planted in the body to fight prostate cancer. In other mild forms, it is injected into the body during scans. But, the risk arises when radioactive materials are handled and transported illegally.
The life of the radioactive ‘trefoil’ began in 1946 at the University of California, Berkeley. It was only in 1948 that the symbol came under consideration for wider use, when Brookhaven National Laboratory (New York) requested a ‘standardized symbol’ for use in their radiation safety programme. Today we recognize the black and yellow symbol.
SSP Athula Daulagala (Deputy Commandant STF) said: “During transport and storage these materials must be very secure. Some are covered (from overseas) in an outer housing canister of stainless steel, titanium and plutonium. Gamma emitting materials are kept in lead containers. This type of security transportation involves eight agencies, where we draw up a TSP (Transport Security Plan). They are the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulating Council, the local company that requires material (end user), the Special Task Force, and corresponding local police station, the SIS (state intelligence service), Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Traffic Police Headquarters.”
Each shipment has a tracking device inside the container. According to the IAEA, the greatest risk is during the transportation process. The routes are chosen and the cargo is moved in a convoy with additional SWAT teams and a STF bomb disposal crew. At present drone monitoring is also done by the STF, covering the convoy route. At some locations (private company), depending on the strength of the radioactive material, it is stored in underwater pools or in chambers where the wall is almost eight feet thick.
SSP Daulagala further explained: “Once an alarm is activated in any of these locations, we receive an alert to the smartphone. From the live visuals, our operators can identify the level of threat – is it a breach of the defensive parameter or an actual theft in progress. There can be a fire on site triggered by electric failure. We have 58 bases across Sri Lanka and each Base Commander is fully trained on how to respond. If it is an alarm, we can send a two-man bike team to check the level of radiation. From our Central Monitoring Station, we can deploy our first responders by road and helicopter along with SWAT commandos”. The STF –CBRNE team’s capacity has been enhanced under the prudent tenure of present commandant DIG Waruna Jayasundara.
Addressing the challenge of CBRN requires international cooperation. CBRN threats cross borders and so must attempts to manage, reduce and end them. The availability of forensics teams to provide investigative support makes an important contribution to judicial understanding of CBRN related matters.
The STF was active during the Covid period disinfecting various hospitals and isolated villages. The STF is constantly updated by the INTERPOL on suspicious movement of radioactive materials globally. With the addition of the CBRNE rapid response teams and the radiological threat monitoring station, the STF has contributed immensely to the future of our national security. The Special Task Force is fully geared to face the emerging threats of CBRNE hazards and chemical terrorism.
(The writer is author of Target Secured- Police Special Task Force)
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