Terrorism: Al-Qaeda has ability to 'scatter handfuls of radioactive dust'

London, 2 Feb. (AKI) - Al-Qaeda would probably not have too much trouble acquiring uranium that can be used in a so-called dirty bomb, according to Bob Ayers, a London based security expert who worked as an intelligence agent for the United States government for almost 40 years.

"They probably could deal through a middleman that would link them up," Ayers told Adnkronos International in an interview. "As we know, there are many countries with nuclear power plants that use uranium.

The high-quality weapons grade material is difficult to buy, but the "low -quality stuff you can wrap around a conventional bomb is not stuff that is hard to buy," he said. The explosion would spread the uranium "like scattering handfuls of radioactive dust."

Newly released security briefings obtained by Wikileaks have suggested that Al-Qaeda was plotting a programme of "dirty radioactive IEDs", makeshift nuclear roadside bombs that could be used against British troops in Afghanistan, the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

According to the cables, security leaders at a 2009 NATO conference informed member countries that Al-Qaeda operatives were devising a scheme to plant "dirty radioactive IEDS" that could target alliance forces in Afghanistan.

Ayers said that all it takes is money in order to purchase uranium. Even without money, a group can use threats to force someone with access to uranium to hand over the material.

Once they have the uranium, it is difficult to get it through security screening in most western countries, according to Ayers.

"They can pack it in a big lead box but that is heavy and would arouse suspicion. They can certainly do it, but I suggest it is more of an aspiration than an ability."