London: After a deadly consignment of uranium was seized at London’s Heathrow Airport, investigative agencies believe it could have been used to make a dirty bomb. The Sun as saying that the uranium-rich packet was placed in Pakistan before the Oman Air flight from Muscat landed at Heathrow’s Terminal 4. On 29 December, a packet containing radioactive material was detected at a UK airport after a routine check.
In the cargo section of Heathrow, it was found that the Uranium packet had been sent to a firm linked to Iran in the UK. Although its quantity was very less, due to which there is no danger, it is being estimated by the officials. The incident has also raised concerns about the way nuclear material is being handled in Pakistan. Pakistan has a turbulent history with nuclear materials, with several incidents of the illegal proliferation of nuclear technology and materials in the past.
What is a dirty bomb?
A dirty bomb or radiological dispersal device is a radiological weapon that uses radioactive waves along with conventional explosives. The aim of the weapon is to contaminate the surrounding area with the help of radioactive material with a conventional explosion. Let us tell you that the dirty bomb has never been used. They are designed to diffuse radioactive material over a certain area.
