Fear over nuclear waste US flights
A second aircraft carrying radioactive waste bound for the US flew out of Scotland yesterday amid tight security.
Dozens of armed police, some in balaclavas, stood guard at Wick John O’Groats ai rport as the highly enriched uranium (HEU) – used to make nuclear bombs – was loaded on to a giant American Air Force C-17 Globemaster.
Armed Police Scotland a nd Ci v i l N u c l e a r Constabula ry of f icers guarded the convoy of two trucks as it travelled the 32 miles from Dounreay to Wick airport.
At Lossiemouth, the US transporter was refuelled under armed RAF guard before heading off to South Carol ina with the HEU eventually destined for a nuc l e a r facility in Tennessee.
The waste deal was concocted by ex- prime minister David Cameron and former US president Barack Obama last year.
It was agreed the UK would send HEU to the US in return for medical grade uranium to make radio isotopes for detecting cancer.
The first load of radioactive waste left Wick last September.
Friends of the Earth director, Dr Richard Dixon, said: “There is no truly safe way to move this nuclear waste from A to B.”
Pol ice Scotland said y e s t e r d ay : “We a r e support ing a par tner agency’s operation and cannot comment further.”