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October 06, 2006
Seizures Of Radioactive Materials Have Doubled In Last 4 years
Seizures of radioactive materials fuel 'dirty bomb' fears
Times Online
SEIZURES of smuggled radioactive material capable of making a terrorist “dirty bomb” have doubled in the past four years, according to official figures seen by The Times.
Smugglers have been caught trying to traffick dangerous radioactive material more than 300 times since 2002, statistics from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) show. Most of the incidents are understood to have occurred in Europe.
The disclosures come as al-Qaeda is known to be intensfiying its efforts to obtain a radoactive device. Last year, Western security services, including MI5 and MI6, thwarted 16 attempts to smuggle plutonium or uranium. On two occasions small quantities of highly enriched uranium were reported missing. All were feared to have been destined for terror groups.
Scientists responsible for analysing the seizures have given warning that traffickers are turning to hospital X-ray equipment and laboratory supplies as an illicit source of radioactive material.
Investigators believe that the smugglers, who come mainly from the former Eastern bloc, are interested only in making a swift fortune and believe that they may have no compunction in selling to jihadist groups. Most undercover operations and recent seizures have been kept secret to protect the activities of Western security services.
Rigorous controls on nuclear processors, especially with Russia co-operating to stop the trafficking of enriched plutonium and uranium, have limited smugglers’ access to weapons-grade nuclear materials. But medical and laboratory sources, including waste, remain vulnerable. Such radioactive waste can be used to make a dirty bomb.
A dirty bomb combines a conventional explosive, such as dynamite, with radioactive material such as spent nuclear fuel like highly enriched uranium and plutonium. In most instances the conventional explosive would kill more bystanders but the dispersion of the radioactive material would have a hugely damaging “fear” factor.
There were 103 cases of illicit trafficking last year, compared with fewer than 30 in 1996. Fifty-eight incidents were reported in 2002, rising to 90 in 2003 and 130 in 2004. Experts point out that seizures in the past three years equal the same amount of trafficking in the previous seven years.
Olli Heinonen, deputy director-general of the IAEA, which monitors trafficking and inspects nuclear plants to audit their radioactive materials, said that while weapons-grade nuclear material smuggling was now rare there were serious concerns about other radioactive substances.
“A dirty bomb is something that needs to be taken seriously. We need to be prepared for anything because anything could happen,” he said. “Terrorists look for the weakest link. We need to be alert and we need to be prepared.”
Al-Qaeda makes no secret of its desire to obtain a dirty bomb. Last month its leader in Iraq, Abu Hamza alMuhajer, called for scientists to join it and experiment with radioactive devices for use against coalition troops. Even before 9/11, Osama bin Laden invited two Pakistani atomic scientists to visit a training camp in Afghanistan to discuss how to assemble a bomb using stolen plutonium. Captured al-Qaeda leaders have since confessed to the CIA of their attempts to smuggle a radioactive device into the US.
Professor Klaus Lützenkir-chen, who helps to analyse the seized substances, said that even small quantities of radio-active material could be of use to terrorists.
“If someone gets hold of it, it is possible it could be used in a dirty bomb,” he said. He added that if such a dirty bomb were detonated in a town centre the physical effect would be comparatively small and unlikely to cause huge loss of life but would have an enormously damaging “fear factor”.
One of the most serious seizures since 9/11 was that of several kilograms of a radioactive substance known as yellow cake that was found in a consignment of scrap metal at the port of Rotterdam in December 2003.
Professor Lützenkirchen said that seizures have been made across Europe, usually at borders and sea ports. Most of the trafficked material originated from the Caucasus region where he said that there was “considerable activity” among smugglers.
Seizures have continued this year, though overall figures for 2006 are not yet available. They include the discovery in Germany of a small quantity of highly enriched uranium.
Roland Schenkel, director-general of the European Commission Joint Research Centre, which analyses seizures for the IAEA and Western security services, said:
“Illicit trafficking will remain high on our list of activities, including threats by terrorists.”
Wild Thing's comment......
After reading this then thinking about how Harry Reid stood there and so proudly said they had stopped the Patriot Act. Gosh Democrats I bet you are really disappointed that these radioactive materials get seized since you do not believe in protecting the citizens of our country.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 6, 2006 12:47 AM
Comments
I wonder how good our technology is at detecting radioactive material. I have heard it is pretty good, but has to be directed based on specific intelligence rather than in a broad sweep.
Posted by: TomR at October 6, 2006 02:13 AM
Frankly, I don't know why they even bother with the smuggling anymore. Why waste time in decontamination?? To bring down the US government all it takes is a well placed homosexual teenage page or two winking at the right legislators.
They already have the media infrastructure in place to document their victory.
Billy
Posted by: Billy at October 6, 2006 02:17 AM
This is scary.
Posted by: beth at October 6, 2006 08:53 AM
Once back in the very early '70's I was working in nuclear fuels, using both Uranium and Plutonium. As part of the safety team we staged an experiment using 1 gram of P4 Phosphor powder which glows under fluorescent light to illustrate the need to keep the stuff contained. This 1 gram was spilled on a basement floor, we then tracked it the following day. The result was astounding, it was everywhere even on the ceilings, in the air ducts from the basement to the second floor where personnel had walked through it.
Imagine the spread if it was Plutonium and it was released on any busy street or in a shopping mall, especially in larger quantities. Our detection systems are phenomenal but detection depends on dispersal, detection will be too late. We are aware of the Gamma radiation(Xray) which is relatively easy to detect, but Alpha and Beta particles can be sheilded by something as simple as a piece of paper making them harder to detect.
I built radiation detectors as part of my job in the nuclear fuels plant, both for Alpha-Beta detection and Gamma-Neutron detection, technology has made enormous strides since then, that P4 phosphor was used in making the low level detectors because it gave off UV when exposed to Alpha-Beta particles.
The problem with Plutonium especially is, it is a bone seeker, it's those pesky Alpha and Beta particles meaning they will get into the bloodstream through ingestion where they lodge in the bone marrow, causing leukemia and bone cancer. Lung and stomach cancers are also potentials from ingestion not to mention genetic damage to the reproductive system, you will have a hard time detecting a dispersal without the signature of an explosion which makes this issue a top priority with me, because all that has to be done is scatter some material and let the people disperse it through their ignorance. I have been radioactively contaminated twice, and the decon procedure isn't any fun, I've been blessed, some of my colleagues have literally been skinned to remove the contamination others have died from cancer. Be afraid, very afraid.
Posted by: Jack at October 6, 2006 02:46 PM
Jack,
Gee, thanks for that comforting essay. I've not been this afraid since my second ex wife told me she balanced the checkbook. I WAS going to go to the store but I just checked the fridge and have decided to just stay home. I have enough milk after all.
Billy
Posted by: Billy at October 6, 2006 04:27 PM
Tom I sure hope it is good detecting radioactive material. I kind of like feeling safe.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 6, 2006 05:25 PM
Billy we sure have seen that this past week.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 6, 2006 05:26 PM
Beth I agree very scary stuff.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 6, 2006 05:27 PM
Jack thank you so much for your input on this. You have experienced it up close and personal and I am soooo glad you are ok. Thank God!
I agree it is very scary stuff and alarming to even think about.
Thank you again!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 6, 2006 05:29 PM
