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6 detained in Mexico theft of radioactive material
AP ^ | 12/6/2013 | E. EDUARDO CASTILLO and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON

Posted on 12/06/2013 5:09:40 PM PST by markomalley

Six people being tested for possible radiation exposure in a hospital in central Mexico are suspects in the theft of highly radioactive cobalt-60, a government official said Friday.

The official said the six were arrested Thursday and taken to the general hospital in Pachuca for observation and testing for radiation exposure. Once they are cleared, they will be turned over to federal authorities in connection with the case of a cargo truck stolen Monday at gunpoint that was carrying the extremely dangerous material.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. He did not specify how the six were allegedly involved in the theft.

Hidalgo state Health Minister Pedro Luis Noble said Friday that the six suffered from skin irritations and dizziness, but that none are in grave condition and may be released soon. Only one was vomiting, a sign of radiation poisoning.

But based on the tests, "none are showing immediate signs of radiation poisoning," Noble told Foro TV.

The cobalt-60 theft triggered alerts in six Mexican states and Mexico City, as well as international notifications to the U.S. and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. It raised concerns that the material could have been stolen to make a dirty bomb, a conventional explosive that disseminates radioactive material.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; Mexico
KEYWORDS: muslims
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To: markomalley

The thing we should all be concerned about is the fact that this “radio active material” (really an old radiation therapy machine from what I can see), is being so cavalierly transported thousands of miles. The truck could have just as easily been “hijacked” by a bunch of Muzzies bent on dropping this Cobalt 60 wrapped around some HE on an American city from a light plane.


21 posted on 12/06/2013 7:28:49 PM PST by vette6387
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To: Antonello

Nope. Just a coincidence...


22 posted on 12/06/2013 7:30:40 PM PST by varyouga
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To: Antonello

Really? That is very strange indeed!


23 posted on 12/06/2013 8:52:02 PM PST by rawhide
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To: vette6387

And almost nobody is reporting the fact that the truck began its journey in Tijuana...


24 posted on 12/06/2013 11:01:34 PM PST by logi_cal869
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To: logi_cal869

“And almost nobody is reporting the fact that the truck began its journey in Tijuana...”

Yes, from the pictures of the crating, it looked as though it was from a hospital in Tijuana. It was simply an old radiation therapy machine that was being shipped to the Mexican repository. Really sloppy handling procedure for something that could be used with a devastating result as a component in a dirty bomb.


25 posted on 12/07/2013 12:09:20 AM PST by vette6387
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