PNRI: Uranium may be used to create ‘dirty bombs’

The powdered form of the depleted uranium recently confiscated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) may be used to create "dirty bombs," the head of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) said yesterday.

- - Janvic Mateo

While the primary motive appears to be the fraudulent sale of the hazardous material as precious metal, PNRI director Carlo Arcilla said the powdered form of the substance can be a security issue if it falls into the hands of unscrupulous people.

"I'm not so much concerned about the solid depleted uranium, but the powder. Because the powder can be mixed with explosives to make a dirty bomb. That is a local security issue if it was sold to unscrupulous fronts," Arcilla told "Storycon" on One News.