Brussels cell 'was plotting radioactive bomb attack'

[bananas]

Source: London Times

Eleven Belgian nuclear workers have had their work passes revoked amid fears that the Brussels bombers were plotting to build a radiological dirty bomb.

Ibrahim and Khalid el-Bakraoui, the brothers suspected of suicide strikes on Brussels airport and Metro, are believed to have been involved in an Islamic State plan to create a bomb to scatter radioactive material over a populated area.

A senior Belgian nuclear industry official was secretly filmed by jihadists late last year, according to the country’s nuclear authority. Yesterday the brothers were linked to the surveillance.

An official at the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control told...

<snip - paywalled>


Read more: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article4721270.ece

[billhicks76]

1. And Poison Their Fellow Muslims?

This doesn't make sense. Sounds like a set up to justify continual war.

[Yo_Mama]

5. Muslims use the subways and airport too. These aren't your average Muslims. n/t

[Shemp Howard]

6. Certainly they will poison their fellow Muslims.

These radicals don't care who they kill, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews. It doesn't really matter all that much to them.

I doubt that, before detonating their bombs, the brothers first checked the Brussels airport to make sure there weren't any Muslims present.

But you do have a point about continual war. One goal of the terrorists (not the state) is to provoke the West into entering that continual war. That was one of bin Laden's goals for 9/11. Bush obliged him there.

[Renew Deal]

7. They're not worried about that

They have been the most vicious killers of Muslims in the Middle East. Setting off a dirty bomb in Europe would be hugely symbolic.

[840high]

8. They've killed Muslims before.

[Lucky Luciano]

9. The psycho-Islamists kill more Muslims than any other nationality/religion!

[Oneironaut]

13. Since the apocalypse is going to happen, they won't need earth anymore.

Basically, they feel any action down here is justified because the apocalypse is going to happen and it's for the greater good.

[MariaThinks]

15. the belief system is that someone will be rewarded in the afterlife if they kill nonbelievers and

even if muslims are killed - they are martyrs so they too are rewarded in the afterlife.

the focus is not on life today but trying to make the afterlife better through killing nonbelievers.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

17. Pfft

Did we miss a sarcasm tag?

[6chars]

2. The question is, is this worth really going to war footing over?

Stopping ISIS both in the ME and in the rest of the world would require security measures that the western nations may not want to take.

[MariaThinks]

16. and to have a debate about something we don't really understand

or appreciate what is trying to destroy us.

There are only two outcome - 1. the world completely satisfies every demand of isis; 2. modern countries understand what is trying to destroy them and take the appropriate steps towards defense.

the violence is escalating. Nothing is to destructive for isis and the other believers. The mode of fighting is alien to western powers and values where a common understanding and interests are sought and human rights are at least some interest.

[6chars]

18. If it were up to me, I would defeat them.

It worked against the Nazis

[bananas]

3. 11 workers at Tihange nuclear power plant have had their passes revoked

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3507417/Brussels-bombers-DID-plan-attack-nuclear-power-station-police-uncover-12-hours-footage-jihadists-filmed-outside-plant-director-s-home.html

Were Brussels jihadis trying to make a RADIOACTIVE BOMB? Expert says ISIS may have been plotting to steal nuclear material – as 11 power plant workers have their access revoked amid fears of 'insider help'

•Brussels terrorists had originally planned to target a nuclear power plant

•May have detonated at plant or gained entry to get 'dirty bomb' materials

•11 workers at Tihange nuclear power plant have had their passes revoked

•Jihadis filmed 12 hours of footage of power chief's home amid kidnap plan

•It has now emerged the creators of the footage were the Bakraoui brothers

•See more of the latest news updates on the Brussels terrorist attacks

By Nick Fagge and Corey Charlton for MailOnline and Sam Greenhill and Claire Duffin and Claire Ellicot For The Daily Mail

Published: 03:27 EST, 24 March 2016 | Updated: 21:01 EST, 24 March 2016

The Brussels terrorists may have been plotting to make a radioactive bomb after it emerged 11 nuclear power plant workers have had their site access revoked amid fears of 'insider help'.

Jihadi brothers Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui had secretly filmed the daily routine of Belgium's nuclear programme chief, before they blew themselves up at Brussels airport and on a Metro train.

It is thought the brothers' spying operation was possible preparation for a kidnap plot to force him to let them into one of Belgium's two atomic facilities. However, it is likely they switched targets to the less well-guarded airport and Maelbeek Metro station after authorities became suspicious.

It emerged last night that 11 workers at the Tihange nuclear power plant, 40 miles south-east of Brussels, have had their access badges withdrawn – leading to speculation the bombers may have been seeking insider help.

Seven of the passes were withdrawn last week, and last Friday additional soldiers were deployed to protect the plant, which has three reactors.

If the terrorists had struck there, it could have caused a catastrophe. The plant lies in a heavily populated area about 50 miles from each of Belgium's borders with Germany, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. One Belgian plant is only 90 miles from Kent.

<snip>

[WheelWalker]

4. Do tell...

[Democat]

10. Who were the 11 nuclear workers and why weren't they arrested?

Work passes revoked doesn't sound very serious if they were helping terrorists?

[Helen Borg]

11. They did not say they were helping terrorists...

[Democat]

12. One of the quotes in this thread says

11 power plant workers have their access revoked amid fears of 'insider help'

Sounds like they fear that someone on this list might have been helping the terrorists. Or maybe it's just a precaution.

[Helen Borg]

14. Yup "fears"...

[Socal31]

19. The first time ISIS uses any nuclear material to attack a Western territory.....

I believe we see a full-scale invasion of Iraq/Syria, unfortunately.