Uranium shipped to UK on passenger jet originated from Pakistan
Counter-terror police are investigating how a small amount of uranium was shipped to the UK on a passenger flight.
The radioactive material was detected in a package at Heathrow Airport following a routine screening on 29 December.
It arrived on a flight from Oman after originating in Pakistan, say Sky sources.
It was found in a shipment of scrap metal.
Counter-terror commander Richard Smith said the amount of contaminated material “was extremely small” and has been assessed by experts as posing no threat to the public.
He added: “Although our investigation remains ongoing, from our enquiries so far, it does not appear to be linked to any direct threat.
“As the public would expect, however, we will continue to follow up on all available lines of enquiry to ensure this is definitely the case.
“However, it does highlight the excellent capability we and our partners have in place to monitor our ports and borders in order to keep the public safe from any potential threats to their safety and security that might be coming into the UK.”
The material has been identified as being contaminated with uranium, the force said, and no arrests have been made.
Former head of the British Army’s chemical weapons unit, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, told Sky News that it was “a concern” that the material has apparently reached the UK, having come all the way from Pakistan, but that he did not think the public should be overly worried.
A file image of the plane that flew to Heathrow from Muscat. Image taken in September 2022. Pic: Andre Giam
He added: “I think it’s excellent that the police and others have interdicted this and made it safe, but we must be on our guard because there are bad people out there who want to do us harm in this particular manner.”
Speculating about the intent, he said that “we must be open to the fact this might be some sort of terror type thing”.
Mr Bretton-Gordon said while there is no indication that a group such as al Qaeda was behind the incident, he argued it “has their trademark and fingerprints on it”.
Whatever the origin, he said the material “absolutely shouldn’t be on a commercial airliner”.
However, defence and security analyst, Professor Michael Clarke, told Sky News he believed it was unlikely to be terror-related.
He said: “It is almost certainly an accident.
“If that was terrorists trying to bring that in, they would be bringing it into the one place in the UK that is bound to catch it.
“Heathrow is the one place where uranium will always be detected – so that almost rules it out.
“The point about uranium is that the Heathrow scanners would immediately pick up any toxic uranium.”
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‘Bad people want to do us harm’
The Met said officers are working with partner agencies to investigate the incident and ensure there is no risk to the public.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not comment on live investigations.”
Uranium is a metal that exists naturally in the earth, but is harmful to humans because it is radioactive.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay told Sky News that he hoped for more information in “due course” about the material seized at Heathrow.
He said: “Clearly there is an investigation under way, and it is right that it looks at all the issues, and I’m sure it will report in due course.”
UK
‘Major incident’ declared in Northern Ireland as wildfire breaks out amid higher-than-normal temperatures
A major incident has been declared in Northern Ireland after a wildfire broke out, the latest in a series of blazes seen across the UK over the past week amid soaring temperatures.
More than 100 firefighters and 14 fire appliances were at the scene of the “significant” wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said.
The fire had a front of approximately two miles “including a large area of forestry close to property”, the service said.
The wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown. Pic: Sky Watch NI
“Local residents are requested to avoid the area, a number of roads have been closed, to help support firefighting operations,” the fire service added.
“We ask that all members of the public remain particularly vigilant to the risk of fire at this time. We can reassure members of the public that normal service delivery is being maintained.”
More than 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire. Pic: Sky Watch NI
Various fires erupted across England this week amid uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions for the time of year.
On Saturday, helicopters were deployed to tackle Scotland’s fourth wildfire this week, with police saying a blaze “which started in the Newton Stewart area has spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday”.
Police Scotland added: “As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.”
Moors Valley Country Park blackened by fires this week
Elsewhere in England, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were assisting the fire service with temporary road closures on the A30 in the Bolventor area as they tackle “a number of fires” on moorland.
In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday.
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Wildfires spread across nature reserve
Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath in Poole on Wednesday, and nearby Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday.
Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far – with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) – the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office.
The weather conditions triggered a “severe” wildfire rating for parts of the UK on Tuesday.
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