Good job Bulgaria.
Hope they nail all involved.
The lorry was registered in Turkey and had been hired by a British company, the agency said.
It was "destined for Istanbul and Tehran," a senior agency official told Turkish radio.
It did not have the necessary authorisation and was carrying caesium among other radioactive materials.
"In our view these materials could be used for industrial purposes," the official said.
The radiation measured in the lorry's cab was 200 times higher than that occurring naturally.
But the vehicle had been isolated and "represented no danger to the population". An inquiry has been opened.
Western countries suspect Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civil nuclear programme.
I wonder how they knew the lorry (truck) was going to Iran. At any rate, I'm glad they intercepted it.
Here's a related article:
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http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=66712
"Bulgarian Customs Stop Truck Carrying Radioactive Cargo:
Crime: 19 July 2006, Wednesday.
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Bulgaria's customs officers intercepted early Wednesday morning a Turkish truck carrying radioactive material, as the driver was attempting to cross the border with Romania at the Danube Bridge checkpoint at Russe.
The truck's hazardous load triggered an alarm while it passed the radioactive check system and the customs officers alerted the Nuclear Regulatory Agency(NRA), officials from the agency announced. The radioactive emissions were three to ten times higher than the natural gamma-background of Russe. The truck was going from England to Turkey.
Emissions were strongest at the front of the truck where experts believe that the cargo is located. The strongest emission measured right next to the cargo is 28 mSv/h, which is about 200 times higher than the natural gamma background of the regions. Three meters away from the truck, however, the levels fall back within the normal values.
Spectral analysis have shown that the truck is carrying radioactive source 137Cs, and have detected a source of neutron emission. Later tests revealed that the cargo included the radioactive source 137Cs with a 10-mCi activity and a neutron source 241Am:Be with a 40-mCi activity. Experts shared that these materials are often used in measurements such as industrial radiographs and hospital X-ray photographs. This, however still hasn't been confirmed by the NRA.
Normally transporting such cargo requires special permission by the regulatory bodies of all the countries along the route. The driver, however showed no such papers. The NRA is now investigating the case."
bttt
Ping
What was the NAME of the British company, and who owns it? A bunch of rich Arabs no doubt?
Funny, but I haven't heard anything about this story in the lamestream media. Shocking.
Hired by a British company?
Medical equipment, I hope.
I don't remember, but isn't Bulgaria a coalition member that has been with us in Iraq from the beginning?
http://sofia.usembassy.gov/shared_facilities_faq.html
July 17, 2006
The United States and the Republic of Bulgaria have signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement which refers to the conditions of the shared use of several military facilities on Bulgarian territory. The Agreement is based on our understanding that Bulgaria and the United States are allies, that security, defense and the fight against terror are joint work, based on the goals and principles of the UN and on our shared values. The U.S. has also signed a similar agreement with the Republic of Romania and the military units deployed to both Bulgaria and Romania will be known as Joint Task Force East.
Nice to have friends where you need them.
From ten days ago. Iran's plan for August?