A Pentagon commissioned report has revealed that US' nuclear facilities are vulnerable to terrorist attacks which could potentially help the attackers build an improvised fission bomb.
The study carried out by University of Texas researchers found contrast to what the nuclear industry says about its own safeguards, Fox News reports.
According to the report, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) has said that in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks, it undertook re-assessment of its plant security and pumped up protections.
The NEI has claimed that a typical plant features layers of protection with fencing and heavy patrolling right from the boundaries to the vital equipment and the containment vessel as well has multiple layers of steel and concrete.
The report added that NEI official insisted that a computer testing was done simulating the direct impact of a Boeing 767 into a containment vessel and it was found that the concrete was broken, but there was no radiation release.
However, the study by University of Texas found varied results which stated that an impact of an airliner would breach the containment leading to a loss of coolant and therefore a meltdown which would ultimately release major levels of radiation.
The researchers have called for greater uniformity of security at all nuclear facilities, whether power plants, places where nuclear weapons are stored or where fissile material is stored, the report added.
