Breaking: Guard at ‘terror target’ Belgian nuclear site killed, access badge stolen

A security officer at a nuclear site in the Belgian city of Charleroi was killed two days after the terror attacks in Brussels, local newspaper Derniere Heure reported, citing police sources. The paper added that the man’s security pass was stolen.

I guess if nothing has happened till now, those keys were blocked. But this is wierd news. Could be terror related, then again something completely else.

Then again something is being hidden from us. But to me its one of those Jame Bond type 'news'

More being added:

A security guard, who was walking his dog, was shot dead in the early evening on Thursday, the paper says. His security pass was stolen, which alerted the investigators since the man was a member of the Charleroi nuclear site staff.

Earlier Thursday, DH reported that Brussels suicide bombers Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui were planning attacks on Belgian nuclear power stations and that the arrest of Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam had accelerated the plans of the terrorists.

The brothers reportedly planted a hidden camera in front of the home of the director of the Belgian nuclear research program. The footage with “dozens of hours” of the movements of Belgium's nuclear boss was seized during an anti-terrorist raid in the apartment of another suspect belonging to the same terror cell, Mohammed Bakkali.

Link

A attack at a nuclear facility could lead to lethal irradiation of whole of Europe. That is something I cant imagine. But it is the dream of many terrorists. Hope everything is being done in the background to stop any such attack.

Who takes their work security pass out when they are walking their dog?

originally posted by: johnb
Who takes their work security pass out when they are walking their dog?

Better than leaving them at home, which can get robbed.

If they carry a gun, its better to take the keys with them at all times.

a reply to: asen_y2k

Well even if they succeeded in entering the compound I don't think they could have done anything more than some minor damage.

to get such a plant to go critical one must target several critical systems, and even than it won't go boom anytime soon after that.

more than enough time to set up a disaster plan, surrounding infrastructure that can be dedicated almost instantly to supply anything and more than what is needed to keep it under control.

international help and massive funding would be set up minutes after the attack.

so in my opinion an attack on a nuclear plant is only good to induce fear in the minds of people.
for a short time, and will turn into a general feeling of safety.

a reply to: asen_y2k

Except this is Europe where typically people do not carry firearms, as it's illegal in most of our countries.

originally posted by: johnb
a reply to: asen_y2k

Except this is Europe where typically people do not carry firearms, as it's illegal in most of our countries.

Mind you, they were security of a nuclear power plant, most probably military.

originally posted by: johnb
Who takes their work security pass out when they are walking their dog?

Maybe it was in his wallet, or clipped to his belt. If he is on call, then he would have to carry it at all times.

They already deactivated that security-pass, but who knows what hackers can do with it...

a reply to: laurentius

I agree. You never know what information they could easily get while afar from prying eyes. If countries like Belgium want to prevent future attacks then they must improve on their intelligence gathering and training both the police and military in capturing terrorist. If not, then more attacks will happen as a result.

a reply to: asen_y2k

Accessing a nuclear plant would be a symbolic victory for the extremists wouldn't it? Would really put people on their nerves and raise the fear factor by 10.

It'd be interesting to know what's driving the apparently sophisticated plans to get in? For instance, do they have blueprints? Are they trying to collect something from in there? Would they want access to the plant's intranet?

Or would they be looking to blow something up? Collect fissionable material for the near mythical 'dirty bomb?'

An ID badge won't get a stranger through the gates so it's suggestive that it's a piece in a plan. Whether it's an intelligent plan is anyone's guess.

a reply to: johnb

Someone who carries it in his wallet.

a reply to: Kandinsky

I read that along with the video footage of the boss that they planned on kidnapping him to gain access, which makes slightly more sense than killing a guard and taking his pass.

I wonder if someone took advantage of the overall situation and offed him for their own purposes?

a reply to: Chadwickus

That makes sense mate

Old-school style of situation with a hostage.

Its been all over the news for days that the two Belgian bombers had 12 hours of video recordings of nuclear facility and several staff at facility had ben suspended as authorities feared an inside job. They feared terrorists were trying to make dirty bomb.

It is more concerning as 'the man in white' is still on the loose and is also known on US terror list. He is most wanted at the moment and us believed to be the chief bomb maker.

More about the man who has been shot here

www.telegraph.co.uk...

originally posted by: asen_y2k

originally posted by: johnb
a reply to: asen_y2k

Except this is Europe where typically people do not carry firearms, as it's illegal in most of our countries.

Mind you, they were security of a nuclear power plant, most probably military.

No. Most Nuclear power facilities in the world, to include some weapons facilities, are guarded by private security.

originally posted by: johnb
a reply to: asen_y2k

Except this is Europe where typically people do not carry firearms, as it's illegal in most of our countries.

It also depends, in many EU nations, what type of job someone does.

High risk/national security fields of work will usually satisfy prerequisites in many EU nations for a firearms carry permit.

a reply to: TheBwaap

to get such a plant to go critical one must target several critical systems, and even than it won't go boom anytime soon after that.

They don't need it to go critical...only to blow up the fuel rods, the debris of which floating in the air would be like a mini-chernobyl..or your classic dirty bomb nightmare.

A full scale meltdown isn't required.

originally posted by: Kandinsky
a reply to: Chadwickus

That makes sense mate

Old-school style of situation with a hostage.

A nuke plant?

That doesn't even work in the movies with a bank!

All they would need to do is cut the water supply for the plant, then the rods heat up to critical mass.

Security and plants like that should be extremely tight, i dont think any dumb terrorist can pull that off.