180 pounds of nuclear material missing in Canada

WABC | November 7, 2003 | John Loftus

[Allan]

John Loftus now on Batchelor Alexander WABC reports: A student of Nuclear Engineering at McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario. has disappeared along with 180 pounds of nuclear waste stolen from the university's nuclear reactor. This happened several months ago but an alert has been ordered tonight in the USA and Canada. His name is ? Adnan al-ShoukriJumai, 27 years old, a Saudi national. A search is underway. The fear is that they may hijack a cargo plane in Canada. I hope to provide further details later on this thread.

[ayoshida]

As a fellow Canadian with time about a few schools, I am equally shocked that a Canadian University would give a dubious individual free access to the materials with which to make Weapons of Mass Destruction.

[rs79bm]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

Here's my reply to your post:, from afore mentioned article in WND:

The CFR report states that such radioactive substances are not always well-guarded. The report says, "The [International Atomic Energy Agency] notes that virtually every country has radioactive substances that could be used to make dirty bombs." It cites a U.N. report stating "Iraq tested a one-ton radiological bomb in 1987 but gave up on the idea because the radiation levels it generated were not deadly enough."

[Doctor Stochastic]

Those are rockets trailing smoke. Deformation of the vertical smoke trails allows one to measure the blast strength.

[ayoshida]

That depends upon how many people you want to kill and how much damage you wish to cause.

I suspect that a hundred pounds of the material, properly dispersed, would do a lot of damage in, say, a football stadium.

Especially if combined with other means of attack.

[xp38]

The only reason to watch Fox NFL imho. I didn't even know she was from here. The fount of knowledge on FR is endless.

[Monty22]

You gotta remember, these things were designed to take out enemy missile silos that were hardened. They needed to know how much overpressure shockwave was generated at what distance and at what time from the blast.

That way, they could measure what yield and accuracy they needed.

[cavtrooper21]

Oh I agree, They know down deep that we (and the Israelis) have the weapons to leave the Ka'aba a cloud of glowing dust.
It's only a matter of time until one the Islamic states gets a nuke...
Then the "fun" begins.

[jimbo123]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-06-15-florida-usat_x.htm

Investigators now say that intelligence gathered this year has led them to believe that El Shukrijumah traveled overseas within the past seven years for pilot training under al-Qaeda's guidance. He is known in the terrorism network as "Jaffar the Pilot," al-Qaeda prisoners have told U.S. authorities.

Investigators believe that while he was overseas, El Shukrijumah met Padilla, a Muslim convert and al-Qaeda follower who had lived in South Florida in the mid-1990s.

El Shukrijumah returned to South Florida by 2000. Padilla tried to re-enter the USA in June 2002 and was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

For investigators seeking to understand more about al-Qaeda, El Shukrijumah's movements are a puzzle.

Did he have a terrorist assignment from al-Qaeda leaders, and did it involve Padilla? Did he plan to join or encourage Mandhai's bomb plot, before being scared off? Or did he agree to hear Mandhai's pitch because he hoped to recruit him and other local

[Doctor Stochastic]

If he had stole 80kg from Canada, that would be more believable. Terrorism works best on the gullible who will panic at any hoax. (Send me $100 and I will bring back the Moon.)

[meanie monster]

I think she is from British Columbia, not sure. She is a BIG animal rights freak.

[Calpernia]

Ping

[FreeReign]

The point is there's no actual material missing.

Batchelor & Alexander get used again -- like bathhouse attendants.

[I'm ALL Right!]

"I think we should close both the northern and southern borders "

Amen to that.

[hispanarepublicana]

Look for this nuclear waste to show up in a dirty bomb in Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C.

Geez....what is the fascination with these urban centers? Don't they know that the broken-glass American faction that would burn our own houses and crops before letting them have access are in fly-over country? My own husband is the descendant of a swamp-fox type Field Colonel from the revolutionary war. Besides..........I'm not so sure that this isn't the Dean/Kerry crowd using our own communications infrastructure (FR), trying to keep us selling and keep this market from getting to 10,000 or whatever (I'm an old fashioned gal and frankly leave all that mumbo jumbo up to Mr. Hispanarepublicana, so I'm probably talking out of my a55 on the 10,000 bit). Trust me; when we reach 10,000 or some other magic level, in addition to the other positive economic indicators, it will be a HUGE BOOST to Bush's economy ratings.

[No Blue States]

It seems like a dirty bomb is too complicated (and heavy)compared to anthrax and other chemical and biological weapons that are easier to secure, transport, and disperse.
That speculation on my part, or wishful thinking.

[CyberAnt]

I hope somebody can explain what that "waste material" can or cannot do. I don't believe it can cause any explosions, but I'm wondering if it can cause radiation sickness or other icky stuff ..?? Anybody know ..??

[jimbo123]

Wrong. Materials are missing. Canada is parsing their denials. See link below:

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35339

[Poohbah]

I hope somebody can explain what that "waste material" can or cannot do. I don't believe it can cause any explosions, but I'm wondering if it can cause radiation sickness or other icky stuff ..?? Anybody know ..??

High-level waste (i.e., stuff that emits heavily) can cause radiation sickness.

Low-level waste is likely to give you cancer in 20 years or cause you to have FLKs.

FLKs = Funny-Looking Kids. Also known as NFN (Normal For NorfolkP).

[Mo1]

This happened several months ago but an alert has been ordered tonight in the USA and Canada. His name is ? Adnan al-ShoukriJumai, 27 years old, a Saudi national.

Several Months Ago???

Gee .. Thanks for letting us know Canada Government

[Doctor Stochastic]

It's pretty hard to carry 180lbs of stuff in a briefcase. Not to mention setting off every radiation detector around.

A hoax seems more likely.