Security raised at Sweden's nuclear plants after discovery of explosives | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Security raised at Sweden's nuclear plants after discovery of explosives

The Ringhals atomic power station near Varberg Sweden seen in the distant Thursday June 21, 2012 .Sweden on Thursday raised the security level for the country’s nuclear power plants as police investigated suspected sabotage after explosives were found on a truck at the southwestern atomic power station Ringhals. Police said that bomb sniffer dogs detected the explosives during a routine check as security staff carried at an industrial area within the power plant’s enclosure on Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Bjorn Larsson Rosvall) ** SWEDEN OUT **

STOCKHOLM - Sweden raised the security alert for the country's nuclear power plants Thursday after explosives were found on a truck at the southwestern atomic power station Ringhals. Police said they were investigating possible sabotage.

Police said bomb sniffer dogs detected the explosives during a routine check Wednesday afternoon by security staff at an industrial area within the power plant's enclosure. Police declined to describe the amount or type of explosive material.

Four reactors are at Ringhals, 70 kilometres south of Sweden's second-largest city, Goteborg. The plant is controlled by energy companies Vattenfall and E.ON.

Police spokesman Tommy Nyman said officers were investigating but had no suspects. Nyman said the driver of the truck had been unaware of the explosives and was not suspected of being involved.

"An outsider has obviously placed them on the truck," Nyman said. "We're talking to the truck driver and are trying to map out her movements within the premises throughout the day."

The area surrounding the truck has been evacuated and cordoned off.

Bomb technicians said the material lacked an ignition device, meaning there was no danger of an explosion. Ringhals officials said that an explosion on the truck would not have caused "any serious damage" to the site.

Sweden has 10 nuclear reactors providing about half of the country's electricity.

News from © The Associated Press, 2012
The Associated Press

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