Russian Police Arrest Seven over Uranium Sale Bid

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Russian Police Arrest Seven over Uranium Sale Bid

Reuters - Russian police said on Thursday they had arrested seven members of an organised crime gang in they Moscow region after they tried to sell over one kg (two lb) of radioactive uranium to undercover officers for $30,000.

Six of the gang, whose identities were not released, were arrested in a cafe outside the Russian capital, a police source told Itar-Tass news agency. A seventh man who was storing the uranium-235 was arrested later.

All have been charged with illegal possession of radioactive material.

Detectives are now trying to ascertain the origin of the uranium-235, whose use depends on how concentrated it is.

The private NTV television station said it can be used in nuclear reactors, as fuel for nuclear submarines or, in its most concentrated form, in warheads for nuclear missiles.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there have been a number of cases of nuclear material being stolen from poorly-guarded facilities, sparking grave concern in the West.

In 1994, three men were arrested at Munich airport carrying 363 grams (12.8 ounces) of weapons-grade plutonium from Moscow.

Russia says security at its nuclear facilities has been stepped up since the September 11 attacks on the United States, which heightened fears that militant groups may be seeking to develop a rudimentary nuclear device.

Last month Viktor Kholstov, head of Russia's radiation, chemical and bacteriological defence forces, said defence ministry staff were being trained to deal with the threat of nuclear terrorism.

John Bolton, the U.S. under-secretary of state for arms control, was in Moscow on Thursday for talks on a number of issues including cooperation in the fight to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.