Posted on 10/09/2009 12:27:49 PM PDT by vimto
French agents have arrested a researcher from Europe's top atomic lab on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda, fuelling fears that terrorists could be targeting the nuclear industry.
The 32-year-old man, who was detained along with his brother, works for the prestigious European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) in Geneva, Switzerland, according to French police sources.
''The inquiry will doubtless say what were the objectives in France or elsewhere and indicate perhaps that we have avoided the worst possible scenario,'' said Brice Hortefeux, the French Interior Minister.
An intelligence source told Le Figaro that ''this is a very high level'' case.
Related Links US blamed for defection of Iranian scientist Investigation: Nuclear scandal Terrorists 'have attacked nuclear sites in Pakistan' The suspect is believed to have been in contact with members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), an Algerian-based terrorist organisation which joined Osama bin Laden's network in 2007.
A source said French intelligence officers had intercepted messages in which the man had suggested targets in France.
''He had expressed a wish or a desire to commit terrorist actions, but had not materially prepared them,'' said the source.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Holy moly. CERN is only one of the top research facilities on the entire planet. Thank God they eventually caught the guy.
This reminds me of the “anti-matter” sub-plot of “Angels and Demons.”
This gives me the heebie jeebies, and I’m sure it gives Sarkozy worse ones.
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