| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa Subsaharan |
| A Nuclear Site Is Breached: South African Attack Should Sound Alarms |
| 2007-12-21 |
| An underreported attack on a South African nuclear facility last month demonstrates the high risk of theft of nuclear materials by terrorists or criminals. Such a crime could have grave national security implications for the United States or any of the dozens of countries where nuclear materials are held in various states of security. Shortly after midnight on Nov. 8, four armed men broke into the Pelindaba nuclear facility 18 miles west of Pretoria, a site where hundreds of kilograms of weapons-grade uranium are stored. According to the South African Nuclear Energy Corp., the state-owned entity that runs the Pelindaba facility, these four "technically sophisticated criminals" deactivated several layers of security, including a 10,000-volt electrical fence, suggesting insider knowledge of the system. Though their images were captured on closed-circuit television, they were not detected by security officers because nobody was monitoring the cameras at the time. So, undetected, the four men spent 45 minutes inside one of South Africa's most heavily guarded "national key points" -- defined by the government as "any place or area that is so important that its loss, damage, disruption or immobilization may prejudice the Republic." |
| Posted by:Icerigger |
| #5 We had a van load of mooslimbs scoping out the Three Mile Island reactor after 9-11. When you think about it each one of these reactors is one giant dirty bomb. Minimal security. Scary. |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2007-12-21 15:11 |
| #4 is still unclear why the two groups of intruders sought to break into this particular facility. Dumbass, they staged a diversion across the compound while their compatriots made the real breakin, (As any fool can plainly see, I can plainly see that (Hat tip to Three Stooges/Curly)) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-12-21 14:09 |
| #3 Combined with the recent attack at a Pak nuke site, I can't help wondering if this coincidence or coordination. We've already seen how al Quaida likes their dispersed, coordinated attacks. Yes, I'm probably being paranoid. Then again, if this doesn't call for some paranoia, I don't know what does. |
| Posted by: charger 2007-12-21 13:04 |
| #2 Another breach in Canada reported in Day of Islam of material for a dirty bomb should have set off alarms too. Coincidentally, nuclear medicine material is in short supply,delaying heart scans, and made only in Canada. AQ employee is suspected. |
| Posted by: Clem Omusoling6419 2007-12-21 10:50 |
| #1 At least 8 technically-savvy armed men conduct a complex, coordinated break-in of a highly secure nuclear facility, with inside knowledge and likely assistance as well. Three possible motives (none of which include stealing a computer or 'making a statement'): 1) ecoterrorism, 2) conventional (ie. Islamist) terrorism, or 3) criminal gain. My guess is the latter - a gang was attempting to steal at least a critical mass of weapons grade uranium for sale to bin Laden or his successor. Next question: Was the breach actually stopped or did they successfully steal a bunch of uranium? I know if I were the South African authorities I would certainly not be admitting that a theft had occurred, at least in public. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-12-21 08:30 |