Emergency.Blog

U.S. Skeptical of Colombian 'Dirty Bomb' Claims

March 5, 2008

U.S. Skeptical of Colombian 'Dirty Bomb' Claims

U.S. Authorities Seek Access to FARC Leader's Seized Computers and Documents

By RICHARD ESPOSITO and VIC WALTER

WASHINGTON, DC: Skeptical U.S. law enforcement officials are seeking access to computers and documents that authorities in Colombia say show the leftist group FARC sought "50 kilograms of uranium" for a possible dirty bomb. The material was seized by Colombian police in a raid into Ecuador that killed FARC commander Raul Reyes and has led to talk of war by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who has moved troops to the border with Colombia.

U.S. intelligence officials, while they did not comment directly on the possibility of FARC engaging in the illicit uranium trade, cautioned that reports of FARC attempting to acquire materials for a radioactive dirty bomb should be treated with extreme skepticism.

The evidence of FARC's participation in the uranium trade was first alleged this week by Colombia's national police chief, Gen. Oscar Naranjo, who also said that evidence seized proved Venezuela had interfered in Colombia's affairs by providing $300 million in support to FARC.

Source/continues: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4395397&page=1

Reports about the original allegations from Colombian V.P. Francisco Santos are linked here.