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| 'Highly dangerous' radioactive material stolen, sparking fears of Isis 'dirty bomb' | 'Highly dangerous' radioactive material stolen, sparking fears of Isis 'dirty bomb' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Iraq is searching for "highly dangerous" radioactive material stolen last year amid fears it could fall the hands of Isis jihadis. | |
| The material, stored in a protective case the size of a laptop, went missing from a US-owned storage facility in Basra last November, according to leaked environment ministry documents. | The material, stored in a protective case the size of a laptop, went missing from a US-owned storage facility in Basra last November, according to leaked environment ministry documents. |
| An unnamed senior security official with knowledge of the theft said: "We are afraid the radioactive element will fall into the hands of Daesh (Isis). | An unnamed senior security official with knowledge of the theft said: "We are afraid the radioactive element will fall into the hands of Daesh (Isis). |
| "They could simply attach it to explosives to make a dirty bomb”. | "They could simply attach it to explosives to make a dirty bomb”. |
| The document, dated 30 November and addressed to the ministry’s Centre for Prevention of Radiation, describes "the theft of a highly dangerous radioactive source of Ir-192 with highly radioactive activity from a depot...in the Rafidhia area of Basra province". | The document, dated 30 November and addressed to the ministry’s Centre for Prevention of Radiation, describes "the theft of a highly dangerous radioactive source of Ir-192 with highly radioactive activity from a depot...in the Rafidhia area of Basra province". |
| An anonymous senior environment ministry official based in the city told Reuters the device contained up to 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of Ir-192 "capsules", a radioactive isotope of iridium also used to treat cancer. | An anonymous senior environment ministry official based in the city told Reuters the device contained up to 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of Ir-192 "capsules", a radioactive isotope of iridium also used to treat cancer. |
| The material is classed as a Category 2 radioactive by the International Atomic Energy Agency - meaning it can be fatal to anyone in close proximity to it in a matter of days or even hours. | The material is classed as a Category 2 radioactive by the International Atomic Energy Agency - meaning it can be fatal to anyone in close proximity to it in a matter of days or even hours. |
| So far there is no indication that the material has fallen into the hands of Isis - who do not control this part of southern Iraq - but the group has begun using chemical weapons. | |
| The terror group attacked Kurdish forces with mustard gas during a battle near Erbil, the capital of the Kurds’ autonomous region in Iraq, last August with around 35 soldiers being taken ill. | The terror group attacked Kurdish forces with mustard gas during a battle near Erbil, the capital of the Kurds’ autonomous region in Iraq, last August with around 35 soldiers being taken ill. |
| It is believed to be the first time chemical weapons have been used in the country since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. | It is believed to be the first time chemical weapons have been used in the country since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. |
| A "dirty bomb" combines nuclear material with conventional explosives to contaminate an area with radiation, in contrast to a nuclear weapon, which uses nuclear fission to trigger a vastly more powerful blast. | A "dirty bomb" combines nuclear material with conventional explosives to contaminate an area with radiation, in contrast to a nuclear weapon, which uses nuclear fission to trigger a vastly more powerful blast. |
| A security official said the initial investigation suggested the perpetrators had specific knowledge of how to handle the material and how to gain access to the facility. | A security official said the initial investigation suggested the perpetrators had specific knowledge of how to handle the material and how to gain access to the facility. |
| There were "no broken locks, no smashed doors and no evidence of forced entry", he said. | There were "no broken locks, no smashed doors and no evidence of forced entry", he said. |
| An operations manager for Iraqi security firm Taiz, which was contracted to protect the facility, declined to comment, citing instructions from Iraqi security authorities. | An operations manager for Iraqi security firm Taiz, which was contracted to protect the facility, declined to comment, citing instructions from Iraqi security authorities. |
| A spokesman for Basra operations command, responsible for security in Basra province, said army, police and intelligence forces were working "day and night" to locate the material. | A spokesman for Basra operations command, responsible for security in Basra province, said army, police and intelligence forces were working "day and night" to locate the material. |
| Two Basra provincial government officials said they were told to work with local hospitals to identify possible victims on 25 November. | Two Basra provincial government officials said they were told to work with local hospitals to identify possible victims on 25 November. |
| One said: "We instructed hospitals in Basra to be alert to any burn cases caused by radioactivity and inform security forces immediately". | One said: "We instructed hospitals in Basra to be alert to any burn cases caused by radioactivity and inform security forces immediately". |
| Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |