Counter-terror cops and security services are investigating after a deadly shipment of uranium was seized at Heathrow. The undeclared nuclear material can be used in a dirty bomb. It was destined for Iranian nationals in the UK, originated from Pakistan and arrived on a flight from Oman.
A source said: “The race is on to trace everyone involved.” The package suspected of being smuggled to UK-based Iranians arrived in the hold of a passenger jet. Specialist scanners detected the potentially-lethal uranium as it was ferried to a freight shed, triggering alarms. Border Force agents swooped and isolated the unregistered shipment in a dedicated radioactive room.
Counter-terror police were alerted and a security probe launched into who sent the cargo. It originated from Pakistan and arrived at Terminal 4 on an Oman Air jet from Muscat. Cops were understood to be targeting an Iran-based firm with UK premises where the material was due to go to mystery recipients. No arrests have been made.
Officials will want to rule out any fears that a dirty bomb — a mixture of explosives with radioactive power — was being built here. The suspected plot was smashed on December 29 and a Heathrow source told The Sun: “The race is on to trace everyone involved with this rogue non-manifested package. “Security bosses are treating this with the seriousness it deserves.
Protocol was not followed and this is now an anti-terror operation. “There are real concerns over what the Iranians living here wanted with non-disclosed nuclear material.” Former commander of the UK’s nuclear defence regiment Hamish De Bretton-Gordon said: “For uranium to turn up on a commercial airliner from Pakistan to an Iranian address in the UK is very suspect.”
A former army chief has claimed the deadly shipment could have been used for a Litvinenko-style assassination plot. Officials believe they have prevented any immediate threat to the public. They are being assisted by security services as they investigate the suspected plot. (SOURCE)
