Behavior and communication in CBRN crisis

Terrorism is an ongoing threat to modern societies. Major terror incidents in the last 25 years such as the World Trade Centre attack in 1993, the Oklahoma City bombing 1996, the Madrid bombings 2004, the London underground and bus bombings 2005, the Turkish bombing campaign in 2006, the Oslo bombing in 2011, and the Boston bombing in 2013 were conducted with conventional explosives. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction are rarely in the focus of terrorism (CBRN Terror). Single incidents like the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995, however, show that CBRN terrorism is a threat with serious consequences to be prepared for. One important aspect in a CBRN crisis is to inform and communicate with the general public about the incident – in order to make them aware of potential dangers but also to prevent unjustified rumours. Results and recommendations presented in this book provide suggestions and information to communication experts in the field of CBRN. “An adequate and timely response to a major chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident, whether it is of industrial or malevolent origin requires preparation, exercising and drilling in addition to a built up trust between crisis managers and members of the public and above all the media. This book represents a true effort in building up this trust by elaborating on and providing communication guidelines that, if implemented in an appropriate way, will truly improve crisis management and communication among stakeholders.” Carlos Rojas-Palma, Ph. D. Senior Project Manager Security Research, Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK•CEN)