Pollution was ‘accident at nuclear site’

AN accident at a nuclear facility has been blamed for a cloud of radioactive pollution over Europe in recent weeks, officials said.

French nuclear safety institute IRSN said the incident was likely to have happened in Russia or Kazakhstan during the final week in September.

The IRSN added it could not pinpoint the location and ruled out an accident in a nuclear reactor.

The agency said it was likely to be in a nuclear fuel treatment site or centre for radioactive medicine.

IRSN director Jean-marc Peres added: “Russian authorities have said they are not aware of an accident on their territory.”