CBRN Threats and Incidents Involving Non-state Actors - 2022 Annual Report

The aim of this annual report is to present an updated assessment of the threat posed by non-state actors' use of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN), materials to cause adverse effects on society. The content is based solely on open-source information and includes a selection of incidents that occurred in 2022. The report has been produced by a research group at FOI (Swedish Defence Research Agency), with a grant from the Swedish Ministry of Defence. There were no confirmed attacks with CBRN agents that caused significant adverse consequences in society during 2022. Despite the positive developments in recent years, there are still concerns that attacks may occur. The driving factors behind these concerns can often be linked to rhetoric and information dissemination in extremist circles, individual details of attack planning, and the potential of attacks with CBRN materials to cause adverse effects on society. In one case in Europe, suspicions of planning for an attack with CB agents resulted in action by law enforcement authorities. Also, there are isolated reports of an attack that resulted in fatalities in Somalia, but in this case concrete information on the perpetrator, the substance used, or how the attack was carried out is missing. The authors note that poisonous substances continue to be used relatively often to threaten, intimidate and harm other people. In most cases that have come to our attention, the threats have been directed at individuals who are closely related to the perpetrator. Threats referring to poisonous or infectious substances are also used for financially opportunistic purposes, or to demonstrate dissatisfaction with companies, authorities, or other public functions and people.