Austria and Moldova uncover
nuclear smuggling ring
 |
| Europol headquarters in pictured in the Hague |
Europe's police agency says authorities in Austria and
Moldova have broken up an organized crime ring suspected of smuggling nuclear
materials. The revelations come amid worries about the uncontrolled spread of
nuclear materials and concerns expressed by Pope Francis regarding the use and
the possession of nuclear weapons.
By Stefan J. Bos
Europol, which coordinated and supported the operation, says
a crime group attempted to sell "radiological material to an army"
for some 3 million euros.
The police organization said the material was purported to
be uranium-235, an isotope that can be used as a fuel for nuclear power plants,
or also in atomic weapons.
Officials said a Moldovan undercover agent infiltrated the
ring.
These ring involved suspects in Austria and Moldova, one of
Europe's most impoverished nations and a former Soviet republic.
Three detained
Europol revealed that three people were detained in Vienna
on November 24, one of whom has a previous conviction related to such
activities.
Video footage and photos produced by Interpol show members
of Austria's special police forces detaining people.
They were earlier surrounding a black car in a parking lot,
pointing guns at the driver's side, and smashing in a back window with a baton.
The video, which was seen by Vatican News, also focuses on
two men, their faces blurred out. They seem to walk out of the Chisinau airport
in Moldova, with one carrying a bag. It then shows three men outside talking,
then back inside a building.
A closeup which was taken outdoors then shows a hand
grabbing a light green cylinder out of a bag and turning it to display it for
the camera. It happens before cutting to a different shot of a bag full of
stacks of 500-, 200- and 100-euro bills.
Moldova police
There is no commentary explaining the images on the video.
However, Moldovan police confirmed their involvement and
said the three suspects had been monitored for the past year. They did not
provide further information.
Austrian authorities refused to comment on the case.
News about the smuggling of nuclear material comes after
Pope Francis expressed his concerns about nuclear weapons.
He called both the use and the possession of nuclear weapons
"immoral," and he said it must be added to the Catechism of the
Catholic Church.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét