The Risk

Because cyanide possesses many of the characteristics of an “ideal” terrorist weapon, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security, consider it to be among the most likely agents of chemical terrorism.

• Cyanide is used in many industries and is transported throughout the country via rail and highway, and is therefore plentiful, readily available and can be easily accessed by terrorists via theft or hijacking attempts. More information on the use of cyanide in industry.
• Unlike many biological or nuclear weapons, cyanide does not require special scientific or technical knowledge to use.
• Because of its rapidly lethal mechanism of action, cyanide is capable of causing mass incapacitation and casualties, as well as mass confusion and panic created by the difficulty in identifying the source.
• Cyanide requires large quantities of a specific resource (antidote) to combat – a major public health readiness obstacle in most countries.
• Acts of terrorism are likely to start fires as a secondary component of the terrorist act. The resulting fires can easily become a source of cyanide exposure, especially if in an enclosed area such as a tunnel.

Exposure to cyanide can occur through several methods. Most often discussed is the release of hydrogen cyanide gas into an enclosed space such as office building, subway or stadium. But cyanide salts also could be introduced into pharmaceuticals or the food and water supply.