World leaders to discuss nuclear suicide threat at United States summit

World leaders are to discuss how to safeguard nuclear installations amid fears about nuclear terrorism.

The UK will play a leading role in the summit in Washington, offering expertise to other countries in how to prevent terrorists getting hold of radioactive material, ITV News reported.

The UK and United States will also be taking part in a joint exercise next year to prepare for any online attack against nuclear power plants and waste storage facilities.

The attacks in Brussels have raised fresh concerns about the prospect of nuclear terrorism, with fears Islamic State militants may attempt to get hold of materials to create a 'dirty bomb'.

Belgian media reported that two of the suicide bombers in the attacks, brothers Ibrahim and Khalid El Bakraoui, had video footage of the home of a senior official at a Flanders nuclear waste facility.

The Nuclear Security Summit, hosted by Barack Obama, will see heads of government consider their response to the nightmare scenario.

A UK Government source said there was no "credible evidence" that terrorists were targeting British facilities.

But the cyber attack exercise with the US would ensure that both governments and their civil nuclear industries were prepared and could address any potential weaknesses.

The source said: "You saw just last week in Belgium concerns that were raised around the security of civil nuclear sites and therefore, in the world in which we currently live, we think it's the right thing to do."

The UK will also commit £10 million this year to improve security standards around nuclear plants and waste facilities. 
Source : MENA