Choose a Path
They could build one.
Target a facility with at least 25kg of HEU or 8kg of separated plutonium.
Steal the material or recruit a sympathetic insider at the facility
Construct a crude nuclear device
They could buy one.
Nine countries have nuclear weapons.
CHINA
FRANCE
INDIA
ISRAEL
NORTH KOREA
PAKISTAN
RUSSIA
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
Terrorists could identify a sympathetic government or a group of insiders who could sell and deliver an intact nuclear weapon
The smugglers would have to circumvent international efforts to stop transfers of nuclear weapons across borders.
They could steal one.
Target one of an estimated 111 nuclear weapons storage sites worldwide.
Mount a successful attack on the facility
Bypass safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized detonation
Evade detection by international or domestic law enforcement
Deliver the weapon to the target by air, land or sea