Turkish Police Seize Weapons-Grade Uranium

[sfc_darrel]

Turkish Police Seize Weapons-Grade Uranium
September 28, 2002 10:24 AM ET

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish paramilitary police have seized more than 33 pounds of weapons-grade uranium and detained two men accused of smuggling the material, the state-run Anatolian news agency said on Saturday.

Officers in the southern province of the southern province of Sanliurfa, which borders Syria and is about 155 miles from the Iraqi border, were acting on a tip-off when they stopped a taxi cab and discovered the uranium in a lead container hidden beneath the vehicle's seat, the agency said.

The incident happens at a time of mounting speculation the United States could launch a military attack on neighboring Iraq for its alleged program of weapons of mass destruction.

For complete story:
http://www.reuters.com/news_article....toryID=1508708

"For U-235 enriched to "bomb-grade" uranium, the critical mass may be as small as about 15 kg in a bomb configuration."

1 Kg = 2.2 pounds. 15Kg x 2.2 = 33 pounds.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...on.html#nuccon