A container reportedly used to transport cobalt-60 that was being sent from a hospital to a radioactive waste storage centre is seen in the town of Hueypoxtla, near Mexico City in 2013. The dangerous radioactive medical material, which could be used in a dirty bomb, was being transported by truck when the vehicle was stolen by thieves [File: Henry Romero/Reuters]
The primary objective of a dirty bomb is to sow fear, panic and confusion by hurling radioactive dust and smoke into the atmosphere.
