(Image source: Travel and Leisure)
BY BLAKE HANSON
Alarms were abuzz Friday as authorities at a Moscow airport picked up traces of radiation 20 times the norm. CNN reports.
“But we know that from the Russian customs services they say some sort of radiation alarm went off at one of Moscow’s two major airports today and they inspected a passenger’s piece of luggage as a result of that. Inside they say they found 18 metal objects packed in individual steel cases.”
“They say they conducted further tests and discovered it was a radioactive isotype known as NA-22 which according to Russian customs can only be obtained from nuclear reactor operation.”
The passenger in question was flying from Moscow to Iran. With ongoing rumors that the Islamic nation is developing a nuclear weapon, could this be evidence? Bloomberg talked to an expert who says-- it’s not likely.
“It just raises flags because it’s Iran.. The radioactive isotope itself is something that is used for medical purposes, in tomography machines... It’s not something that is suitable for a military program.”
In fact-- Bloomberg reports there are between 600 and 800 seizures of radioactive substances each year in Russia. But according to The Telegraph-- Moscow and Tehran reportedly have a unique relationship regarding nuclear technology.
“Moscow has echoed Western concerns about the nature of the Iranian nuclear programme but has stopped short of publicly accusing Tehran of seeking atomic weapons and always said that the standoff should be solved by diplomacy.”
CNN reports a criminal investigation into the incident is underway-- an embassy official in Moscow says any reports that the passenger in question was arrested are false.
