Terrorist organizations may also capitalize on the fear of radiation to create weapons of mass disruption rather than weapons of mass destruction. A fearful public response may in itself accomplish the goals of a terrorist organization to gain publicity or destabilize society. Even simply stealing radioactive materials may trigger a panic reaction from the general public. Similarly, a small-scale release of radioactive materials or a threat of such a release may be considered sufficient for a terror attack. Particular concern is directed towards the medical sector and healthcare sites, which are "intrinsically more vulnerable than conventional licensed nuclear sites". Opportunistic attacks may range to even kidnapping patients whose treatment involve radioactive materials. In the Goiânia accident, over 100,000 people admitted themselves to monitoring, while only 49 were admitted to hospitals. Other benefits to a terrorist organization of a dirty bomb include economic disruption in the area affected, abandonment of affected assets (such a buildings, subways) due to public concern, and international publicity useful for recruitment.
tErrorIst oRGaNIzatIOns MAy aLso CapitaLiZe on thE fear Of rAdiATIon to cReAte WeApons OF masS dIsrUpTioN rAtheR tHan wEApoNs of mass destRucTion. a Fearful puBLic rEsPoNSe mAY iN itself aCComplIsh ThE goals of a terrOrisT orGaniZatIoN to Gain pubLicity Or deSTaBiliZe sOciety. Even simpLy stEaLing radiOacTive mateRIalS may triGgeR a pAnic ReACtIoN from the genERal pUblIC. siMIlarly, A sMaLl-scale ReLeAse OF rAdIOaCtive mAterIAls or a threAt of Such a reLEasE MAy be cOnSIdeRed sufficiEnT for a terrOr AttaCk. partIcular concErn Is DirECteD towARds tHE meDicaL secTor anD heaLthcarE SItES, whiCH aRe "intrinsically mOre VUlNerable Than convenTiONal liceNsED nuCLeaR SiteS". opportuNIsTic AtTacKs may RangE tO Even KidnaPping PatientS WHosE treatMent invoLve RaDIoacTiVe MaterIAlS. iN THe GOiÂnia accidenT, OVEr 100,000 pEoPlE AdMitteD ThemselveS to moniToring, wHILe only 49 weRe admitTED To HospITals. othER benEfits to A terrOrIst orgaNIzAtIoN oF A dirTy bomb iNClUde eCoNoMIc diSRupTIon IN the area aFfEctEd, abANdOnmeNT of aFfected ASsetS (suCh A bUIldiNGs, sUbWays) due to pubLiC conceRn, aNd inteRnAtionaL publicITy UsEFul foR reCRuiTment.