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Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE)

Contemporary terrorist organisations aspire to use chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons.

Advancing technology and the theft and smuggling of CBRN and explosive materials make this aspiration more realistic than it may have been in the recent past.

Further threats have arisen from terrorists in conflict zones developing new explosives and new ways of using them – lethal technology that is rapidly shared around the world.

The CBRNE Unit was created in June 2008 as part of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism to drive a coordinated response to the terrorist threat from CBRN weapons and explosives.

Within CONTEST, the government’s overarching counter-terrorism strategy, we have developed a multi-agency response to the developing CBRNE threats. Our work to counter the CBRNE terrorist threat has an impact across all the key areas of CONTEST: Pursue; Prevent; Protect; Prepare.

This work is underpinned by a programme of science and technology and research to improve the UK’s understanding of the threat and ways to improve our response, as well as close collaboration with our international allies and with industry and academia in the UK.

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