ISIL poses serious nuclear threat, Obama says

President Barack Obama of the US has told world leaders at the ongoing nuclear summit in Washington DC that there will be deadly consequences if Islamic State of Iraq and Levante (ISIL) subscribes to the use of atomic weapons.

He urged world leaders to step up plans to prevent “madmen” such as ISIL from getting hold of such weapons stating that 102 nations have ratified a treaty on the protection of nuclear materials.

Obama noted that there was a persistent and evolving threat of nuclear attacks despite progress in reducing such risks.

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“We cannot be complacent,” Obama said, adding that no group had succeeded in getting their hands on nuclear weapons.

The American President however said that al-Qaeda had long sought the use of chemical weapons as ISIL (also known as ISIS) had already used chemical weapons, including mustard gas, in Syria and Iraq.

“There is no doubt that if these madmen ever got their hands on a nuclear bomb or nuclear material, they would certainly use it to kill as many innocent people as possible,” Obama added. “It would change our world.”

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