Belgium Terrorists May Have Targeted Nuclear Plant

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Isis-linked terrorists in Belgium are thought to have been planning to build a ‘dirty’ nuclear bomb, according to a report.

Jihadi brothers Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui had secretly filmed the daily routine of Belgium’s nuclear programme chief, before they blew themselves up at Brussels airport and on a Metro train. The plant lies in a heavily populated area about 50 miles from each of Belgium’s borders with Germany, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

It is thought the brothers’ spying operation was possible preparation for a kidnap plot to force him to let them into one of Belgium’s two atomic facilities. However, it is likely they switched targets to the less well-guarded airport and Maelbeek Metro station after authorities became suspicious. This might explain the mystery of why, in the immediate aftermath of the bombings in Brussles, the country’s two nuclear power plants were all immediately shut down without explanation, despite being miles away from the Brussels facilities under attack. Almost all employees at both facilities were abruptly sent home after the Brussels attacks, amid fears that an “insider” might offer access to terrorists

Concerns over security at nuclear plants have led to 11 workers having their passes revoked after they were vetted by a committee including intelligence and security agencies. Additional soldiers were also deployed to protect the plant, which has three reactors. The plant lies in a heavily populated area about 50 miles from each of Belgium’s borders with Germany, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

A dirty bomb is easier to make than a nuclear bomb but does not create a fission explosion. Instead, traditional explosives are used to spread radioactive material over an area, potentially contaminating it for years.