May 8, 2004
Reuters

Ukraine's SBU secret service arrested three people and seized two cases containing highly-radioactive caesium-137, the SBU's press service said.

Nuclear experts say caesium powder would be ideal for a so-called "dirty bomb", a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material.

They say such bombs would cause more fear and panic than physical damage.

The three men from the southern Sevastopol region were trying to sell the two cases with caesium for $US120,000.

Caesium is a highly-toxic radioactive substance that can explode in very cold water but is used in agriculture and in atomic clocks.

"Buyers and sellers were caught as they were trying to sell the containers. A criminal case was launched," the SBU said in a statement.

"An investigation showed cases contained caesium-137 which poses a real threat to the life and health of people."

Officials gave no other details.

Caesium was responsible for the world's second worst civilian nuclear contamination disaster after Chernobyl.

In 1987, a single open canister of the substance in Goiania, Brazil, exposed 249 people, seriously injured 10 and killed four.

In 1996, Chechen rebels placed a container with the powder in a Moscow park but it was never dispersed.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1104028.htm