CBRN Threats and Incidents Involving Non-state Actors - 2024 Annual Report

Authors:

  • Magnus Normark
  • Anna Karin Tunemalm
  • Anders Lindblad
  • Per Wikström
  • Henrik Ramebäck

Publish date: 2025-06-19

Report number: FOI-R--5757--SE

Pages: 32

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • non-state actors
  • terrorism
  • crime
  • bioterrorism
  • poisoned
  • CBRN
  • threat assessment
  • annual report

Abstract

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. The report is produced by a research group at FOI (Swedish Defence Research Agency), with grants from the Swedish Ministry of Defence. There were no confirmed attacks with CBRN agents that caused significant adverse consequences in society during 2024. As in previous years, there are several cases of possession of toxic substances and information on how toxic substances can be produced found among criminal and violent extremists from both the Islamist and right-wing environment. In some cases, these actors has been linked to international terrorist organizations. 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.