Airport uranium ‘no direct threat’

THE radioactive cargo which sparked a major alert at Heathrow is not linked to any direct threat to the UK, a senior antiterror officer suggested yesterday.

A shipment of scrap metal contaminated with uranium led to fears that nuclear material may have been smuggled in to make a ‘dirty bomb’.

The undeclared package, originally from Pakistan, arrived at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 on an Oman Air jet from Muscat on December 29, sources said.

Specialist scanners operated by the UK Border Force detected the uranium during routine checks, although it was found not to be weapons-grade.

Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism chief Richard Smith said: ‘Although our investigation remains ongoing, from our inquiries so far, it does not appear to be linked to any direct threat.’

It was also suggested yesterday that the Iranian-linked firm the package is understood to have been addressed to may be one of a small number licensed to handle uranium.