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I read an old article in Time Magazine in which a study was referenced that concluded that an attack on Indian Point (a nuclear plant in New York) would result in almost 50,000 deaths shortly afterwards in addition to hundreds of thousands of more deaths over time related to cancer. I've found other studies and statements by experts that say a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant would make 9/11 pale in comparison in terms of deaths and economic cost if successful.
My question is whether or not the idea of thousands dying as a result of terrorists causing a nuclear meltdown and releasing massive amounts of radiation into the surrounding area is plausible.
How large of an area would the radiation contaminate and how difficult would the clean up be?
This is of course assuming the terrorists actually make it inside the plant and have eliminated any opposition preventing them from accomplishing their mission.