ABSTRACT
Attacks, accidents, and natural disasters will occur. Responding agencies must prepare for these inevitable incidents whether in their own jurisdiction or a neighboring location. Past experience and current events substantiate the ability of terrorists-both international and domestic-to deploy a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). Disrupted plots and seized intelligence substantiate concerns that chemical, biological, and radiological attacks pose real threats to America. Organized terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and Aum Shinrikyo have demonstrated the potential to attack large populations, and in fact, there exists a signižcant probability of this occurring. First responders must be cognizant of the real dangers and prepare to deal with the immediate response, as well as process the crime scene safely so that no collateral injuries will occur either to CSIs or laboratory analysts examining the physical and forensic evidence.
