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Another factor influencing the decision to pursue nuclear weapons involves the group's technical capabilities. Any group that decides to undertake a nuclear attack will need technical capabilities that go beyond experience in making and using conventional bombs. Such a group could try to recruit necessary experts or, possibly, take some hostage and force them to work on the group's deadly project. But if a group already had access to sympathetic nuclear scientists and technicians, it might be much more willing to consider nuclear terrorism. The assistance that Pakistani nuclear scientists reportedly offered to Al Qaeda is an important case in point, as such assistance could provide the terrorists with the technical skills needed to construct a nuclear weapon or IND with stolen or illegally purchased nuclear materials.
Finally, ease of access to the necessary nuclear materials is likely to be a crucial factor in the decision for nuclear terrorism. The ability of terrorist organizations to get their hands on fissile materials or even nuclear weapons could encourage them to explore how best to use these items in the pursuit of their strategic goals. Even when terrorists intend to create a mass-casualty disaster, without access to the nuclear materials, most terrorists would likely seek non-nuclear options such as large conventional explosives. Preventing access to nuclear materials or weapons, therefore, makes nuclear terrorism much less likely.
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