Mexican thieves, have highjacked a truck containing radioactive material, that is potentially an extremely hazardous material.
The truck was ferrying the material destined for medical use and other scientific use. The material was Cobalt-60, usually employed in radiotherapy for cancer treatment and other similar scientific use. The truck was transporting it from the border city of Tijuana to a storage facility near Mexico City.
The IAEA, the nuclear watchdog agency has already been alerted and is responsible for publishing the details.
The material was contained inside a special shield box that keeps the radioactivity from leaking or harming those who come in close contact with it. If anyone has opened the container, it could result in serious injury.
Although Cobalt - 60 is not fissionable material, it cannot be used to make a nuclear bomb. But it can be detonated with an explosive device to make a 'dirty bomb', which could spread radioactive particles over a substantial area.
Source : France 24// 12.4.13
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