Terrorists could target nuclear power plants in an attempt to release radioactive contamination into the community . The United States 9/11 Commission has said that nuclear power plants were potential targets originally considered for the September 11 , 2001 attacks . An attack on a reactor 's spent fuel pool could also be serious , as these pools are less protected than the reactor core . The release of radioactivity could lead to thousands of near-term deaths and greater numbers of long-term fatalities
September 11 , 2001 attacks
September 11 attacks
Nuclear power