January 16, 2023

Terrorism Suspect: Heathrow Uranium Seizure

The Guardian, January 16, 2023, reports 

"Man arrested on suspicion of terror offence after Heathrow uranium seizure"

"[UK] Police launched investigation after traces of radioactive element found in material at the airport in December [2022].

The man was arrested after counter-terrorism officers searched an address in Cheshire on Saturday, on suspicion of an offence under section 9 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which covers the making and possession of radioactive devices…”


Pete Comment

The man's package (in the aircraft hold not on him?) from Pakistan, via Oman, to the UK, carried a "trace amount" (less than 100 grams?) of Uranium. See video here and above.

It sounds likely the man arrested is a Muslim, hence terrorism is immediately suspected.

Does he work in the Uranium mining industry? 

Muslim majority countries with large Uranium mining industries (a country that extracts more than 1,000 tonne/year) include Niger, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan mined an estimated 45 tonnes of (non-enriched) Uranium in 2021.

The main risk from a large quantity (1+kg) of HEU is a radiological "dirty" bomb While a better known nuclear fission bomb usually consists of several kgs of 90+% HEU and other booster substances. 

No comments: