Desperate search as radioactive material ‘lost’ in Malaysia
Industrial radiography device could cause radiation exposure or be used as a weapon by militants, according to reports
Malaysia is hunting for an industrial device containing radioactive material that is reported to have gone missing from a pickup truck on August 10, police and media said on Monday.
Authorities fear the device, which contains an unknown amount of radioactive iridium, could cause radiation exposure or be used as a weapon by militants, the New Straits Times daily said, citing unnamed sources.
“Yes, there is a report and we are investigating,” Mazlan Mansor, police chief of the surrounding state of Selangor, said in a brief text message. He declined to elaborate.
Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman confirmed the incident had taken place but insisted “everything is under control”.
“There is nothing to be worried about at this moment,” he was quoted as saying in The Star newspaper.
Two employees of the firm that owned the missing equipment were arrested but later released because of insufficient evidence, media said.