Uranium found at Heathrow ‘could have been part of dry run by Iranian terrorists’
The TelegraphJan 10, 2023
Pakistan has rejected allegations in the British press that a package containing uranium, which arrived at London’s Heathrow airport in December, originated from the South Asian nation.
A discovery of metal bars embedded with uranium at Heathrow in late December triggered a counter-terrorism investigation. The probe focused on why the substance was concealed in an airplane shipment of scrap metal.
The shipment of uranium into Heathrow is worrying. Uranium is a dangerous substance that could have been used to make a dirty bomb. There are even concerns that the smuggling of the substance could have been part of a wider plot by state-backed Iranian terrorists to smuggle material into the country in order to target UK-based dissidents opposed to the regime in Tehran.
Reports blaming Pakistan for the package containing uranium may unjustifiably damage the country's reputation. No information on the case has been officially shared with Pakistani authorities. A more efficient and detailed investigation can happen if relevant information is shared with the Pakistani side. The UK needs to involve Pakistani authorities before making unsubstantiated claims.