| http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/flash-3-2.html
Thursday, May 17, 2001 Report: 100 plus terrorist groups have 'bomb'; 550 nuclear trafficking deals since '93 SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Thursday, May 17, 2001 WASHINGTON — More than 100 terrorist organizations around the world have succeeded in obtaining elements for the construction of a nuclear bomb. A United Nations report said the organizations have obtained the material from nuclear reactors in the former Soviet Union. The report said the terrorist groups have been leading clients of traffickers in smuggled nuclear goods. The report recorded 550 incidents of nuclear trafficking since 1993. As a result, the UN said, more than 100 terrorist groups are now capable of developing an atomic bomb. The report, first disclosed by the London-based Guardian daily, said worldwide smuggling of radioactive materials has doubled since 1996, Middle East Newsline reported. The nuclear trafficking increased dramatically since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Many of these incidents were not confirmed. Western intelligence sources said the terrorist groups are led by the Al Qaeda group of Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden. The sources said Bin Laden is believed to have at least two nuclear bombs. Last week, the UN held a conference in Stockholm on nuclear trafficking. The International Atomic Energy Agency urged the international community to strengthen regulations to prevent nuclear smuggling and trafficking. The IAEA has recorded more than 370 confirmed incidents of nuclear trafficking since 1993. The agency said most of the incidents do not involve material that can be used for the assembly of nuclear weapons. "Looking toward the future, it is clear that broad international cooperation will be needed to upgrade security measures, to improve capabilities for intercepting and responding to illicit trafficking, and to enhance the protection of facilities against terrorism and sabotage." IAEA director-general Mohamed El Baradei said. "The most difficult challenge will be the effective consolidation of all these measures into integrated, efficient national systems, ensuring that the security of nuclear and other radioactive material is woven into the infrastructure of nuclear safety and security." |
