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Nuclear Security - Up Against Terrorism and the Black Market This began as a simple search for all news information related to yesterday's story about the attack on the South African nuclear facility: Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility. However, first up on my search came the story of Asher Karni, an Israeli businessman living in South Africa. While acting as middleman, Asher Karni imported from U.S. manufacturers 200 triggered spark gaps which Karni claimed were to be delivered to a South African hospital. In reality, the triggered spark gaps were going to a Pakistani buyer who was connected to...

U.S. Says Banned Nuclear Technology Went to Pakistan and India By DAVID S. CLOUD WASHINGTON, April 8 - Federal prosecutors investigating the smuggling of nuclear technology disclosed Friday that a South African businessman had pleaded guilty to arranging illegal exports of American-made equipment both to Pakistan and its regional rival, India. Asher Karni, an Israeli who lives in South Africa, entered the guilty plea last September and has been cooperating with investigators, prosecutors said. The prosecutors, however, kept the proceeding secret until Friday, when they unsealed the plea agreement and charges brought against Humayun Khan, an Islamabad businessman with longstanding...

Hours after the withdrawal of charges against Gauteng businessman Johan Meyer for contravening laws governing weapons of mass destruction and nuclear energy, Durban police swooped on a luxury penthouse on the beachfront and arrested a German-born engineer on similar charges. Police then chartered a special flight to whisk him to Johannesburg on Wednesday night. The 65-year-old engineer is also facing similar charges in Germany and was arrested a forthnight ago. While Durban detectives were making the arrest on the beachfront, detectives arrested another suspect in Sandton. Spokesperson for the police national commissioner Director Sally de Beer on Thursday confirmed the...