Scottish Nuclear trains open to attack
embe | 25.11.2002 15:12
Nuclear trains wide-open to terrorist attack – Scottish Greens find timetables, routes and pictures of nuclear rail freight
According to Scotland’s Green MSP Robin Harper terrorists could easily target a nuclear train passing through central Scotland and create a makeshift "dirty bomb". Incredibly, the Scottish Green Party has discovered that even after 11th September, trains carrying nuclear material are sticking to timetables that can be bought over the counter. Route maps and pictures of trains carrying nuclear flasks - are also all easily and publicly available. The radioactive fall-out from such an attack could spark a national disaster with similar effects to Chernobyl, the Green Party has warned.
The Greens have rejected assurances from British Nuclear Fuels who run the trains that their security measures and the thick steel walls of the containers minimised any risk. They are demanding immediate action from the Executive and the UK Government to halt the transports given recent terrorist warnings.
Trains carrying spent nuclear fuel from power stations pass through Scotland, including through central Edinburgh and down the south-west coast on their way to the Sellafield nuclear waste plant in Cumbria.
Robin Harper MSP said; "I have personally seen timetables for nuclear trains, maps of the routes taken and pictures of the trains. Any terrorist could get this information very easily and then they would know when, where and what to attack. There is no reason these transports have to continue. It is extremely foolhardy in light of recent warnings.
"It's unbelievable that after recent very specific warnings of a terrorist attack, trains carrying plutonium are following timetables and routes like clockwork making them easy targets for terrorists.
"Given specific warnings about the threat of an attack on the UK from a so called 'dirty bomb', I am demanding the Scottish Execuitve take immediate action to ensure these transports are stopped. I have passed our information to the authorities and will be raising the matter in Parliament. The Government must order BNFL and British Energy to immediately suspend these nuclear transports and there must be an urgent review of security.
"Our worst fear is that these trains could be targeted by terrorists who could create the effect of a 'dirty bomb' by blowing up the flasks with explosives sending radioactive material into the atmosphere."
The Greens have rejected assurances from British Nuclear Fuels who run the trains that their security measures and the thick steel walls of the containers minimised any risk. They are demanding immediate action from the Executive and the UK Government to halt the transports given recent terrorist warnings.
Trains carrying spent nuclear fuel from power stations pass through Scotland, including through central Edinburgh and down the south-west coast on their way to the Sellafield nuclear waste plant in Cumbria.
Robin Harper MSP said; "I have personally seen timetables for nuclear trains, maps of the routes taken and pictures of the trains. Any terrorist could get this information very easily and then they would know when, where and what to attack. There is no reason these transports have to continue. It is extremely foolhardy in light of recent warnings.
"It's unbelievable that after recent very specific warnings of a terrorist attack, trains carrying plutonium are following timetables and routes like clockwork making them easy targets for terrorists.
"Given specific warnings about the threat of an attack on the UK from a so called 'dirty bomb', I am demanding the Scottish Execuitve take immediate action to ensure these transports are stopped. I have passed our information to the authorities and will be raising the matter in Parliament. The Government must order BNFL and British Energy to immediately suspend these nuclear transports and there must be an urgent review of security.
"Our worst fear is that these trains could be targeted by terrorists who could create the effect of a 'dirty bomb' by blowing up the flasks with explosives sending radioactive material into the atmosphere."
embe