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Response to Nuclear Security Events (Nuklearspezifische Gefahrenabwehr, NGA)

  • In Germany, the Federal States ("Bundeslaender") are responsible for protecting the population against threats, including those involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material.
  • If the civil authorities responding to an event involving nuclear or radioactive material out of regulatory control require support, the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) can provide help in the form of personnel, measurement equipment and expert advice in the fields of physics, chemistry and medicine.
  • The BfS works together with German security authorities to ensure that the preparation for a response to the potential malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material is up-to-date.

The response to nuclear security events involves preparing for and responding to situations in which radioactive material is out of regulatory control, in particular cases where the material is being used maliciously. This also covers the loss or discovery of radioactive materials in the event that this could possibly lead to danger to people or damage to property. For all these instances of the response to nuclear security events, police and radiation protection authorities must work together during the response.

Statement Direktor General R. Grossi, IAEA, Vienna, February 2020

"Nuclear and radioactive material will always attract malevolent interest from terrorists and other criminals. We can never relax our guard. Even countries with little or no nuclear or other radioactive material on their territory must remain vigilant."

Germany is prepared to respond to events involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material out of regulatory control as part of its national and international obligations. This includes the preparatory measures undertaken by German authorities, including the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), to respond to actual or suspected threats involving nuclear or radioactive material.

An event of this kind could have serious health, including psychological, consequences for the population as well as economic repercussions. The aim of the preparatory measures is to prevent an event involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material out of regulatory control from happening in the first place, or to minimize any harmful consequences.

BfS supports other civil authorities

In Germany, the Federal States ("Bundeslaender") are responsible for protecting the population against threats, including those involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material.

The BfS can provide expert support to other civil authorities during the response to an event involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material out of regulatory control as part of administrative assistance, for example for the following authorities:

  • Authorities for the protection against threats (police, state radiation protection) and
  • Civil protection authorities (fire departments, emergency services, emergency medicine).

If administrative assistance is requested from the competent authorities as part of a response to an event involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material out of regulatory control, then the BfS can support other civil authorities with personnel, measurement equipment and expert advice in the fields of physics, chemistry and medicine. The section for the response to nuclear security events (NGA) has the task of preparing the entire BfS for such requests.

Measuring robot ManipulatorRemote controlled caterpillar vehicle with high-purity germanium detector for the indentification of radioactive material ("manipulator robot", exercise scenario)

Preparation for the response to nuclear security events

The BfS works together with German security authorities to ensure that the preparation for a response to the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material is up-to-date. The work is in accordance with the international state-of-the-art in science and technology, for example the recommendations and technical documents of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Nuclear Security Series.

The BfS is working together with other international governmental authorities in the field of the response to nuclear security events to develop and enhance international documents and standards.

BfS supports the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) at major public events

The BfS supports the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in securing major public events and has done so since 2007. Within the framework of this support, the locations to be secured are searched in advance for radiological threats. In addition, radiological portal monitors are set up in order to monitor entrance points and food samples are tested for radioactive contamination.

Police force with measuring instruments Open searchA police search line with measurement equipment for the search for gamma radiation from a radioactive source (exercise scenario)

Training for the response to an event

A good and efficient cooperation between police forces and radiation protection experts is essential for a successful response to an event involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material out of regulatory control. For this reason the BfS takes part in regular exercises with other authorities that are involved with the response to nuclear security events.

In addition, the BfS holds regular meetings on the topic in order to inform and exchange information with the German competent authorities. The exercises and the meetings aim to ensure a fast and professional deployment in response to any event involving the malicious use of nuclear or radioactive material out of regulatory control.

Examples

Some examples from the work of the BfS for the Response to Nuclear Security Events are compiled in the following.

Playing cards marked with radioactive iodineShow / Hide

Since 2014, the BfS has been supporting the Criminal Investigation Division (Landeskriminalamt, LKA) of Brandenburg and Berlin during investigations in connection with illegal gambling. In 2014 and 2016, parts of playing cards that had been marked with radioactive iodine (I-125) appeared at a waste incineration plant in Brandenburg. The BfS helped analyse the structure and composition of the radioactive components of the playing cards. The same kind of fraud found in these cases was also observed in many other countries. The BfS continues to exchange information with national and international partners.

Further information can be found in the BfS annual report 2018/19 on page 62.

The Litvinenko caseShow / Hide

In 2006, the exiled Russian and British citizen Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with highly radiotoxic polonium (Po-210) in London. The trail also led to Hamburg. Because a suspect had travelled to London via Hamburg, it had to be clarified whether polonium could be detected at the locations he had visited in Hamburg.

As part of the Central Federal Support Group (ZUB), the BfS examined several apartments and other locations for residues of polonium in order to ensure the radiation protection of the population and emergency services and in order to support the investigation of suspects. In addition, the BfS also coordinated the investigation into whether individuals had absorbed polonium into their bodies.

Further information can be found in the BfS Annual Report 2006 on page 57 and in the BfS Annual Report 2007 on pages 38–40.

Support for the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) during state visitsShow / Hide

During major events and state visits, the BfS supports the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) with personnel and measurement technology at the event location as well as with the examination of food samples with rapid tests on site and in the BfS laboratories.

Examples of this are:

  • the 2007 G8 Summit in Heiligendamm (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern),
  • the 2015 G7 Summit at Schloss Elmau (Bavaria),
  • the 2017 G20 Summit in Hamburg.

Consultation for authoritiesShow / Hide

On request, the BfS advises the relevant authorities when radioactive objects are found.

Typical cases are the support of fire brigades, radiation protection, and police authorities in the precise identification of radioactive sources or objects (e.g. manufacturer and intended use) in order to obtain information about their origin. The BfS can also use its expertise to assess the danger posed by radioactive material or an object.

Exercises and trainingShow / Hide

In order to be ready for deployment at any time, BfS specialists train in exercises and courses together with BKA and the German Federal Police (BPOL) as well as with international partners. Events for which joint exercises and training are organised include

  • the joint investigation of crime scenes (English language specialist information can be found in ITWG Newsletter No. 13)
  • the search for lost or stolen radioactive sources
  • international cooperation

ResearchShow / Hide

In the field of the response to nuclear security events (NGA), the BfS participates in research on the following topics:

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State of 2023.12.18

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