Explosives Discovered Near Nuclear Plant

A Swedish nuclear plant was put on high alert on Thursday morning after explosives were found near the southwestern Ringhals power station.

Drug sniffing dogs were performing a routine scan of the area when they detected the explosive materials on a truck. The truck was already near the plants high security enclosure and police are now investigating the incident for possible sabotage.

After the incident all three of the country’s nuclear power plants were notified of the potential threat.

Police have not yet announced what type of explosive materials were discovered near the nuclear plant. Bomb technicians however say the materials lacked a detonation device which kept them safe for the time being.

According to Police spokesman Tommy Nyman:

“An outsider has obviously placed them on the truck. We’re talking to the truck driver and are trying to map out her movements within the (Ringhals) premises throughout the day.”

If someone wants to target the countries nuclear power operations Ringhals would be the perfect spot, located just 45 miles from the city of Goteborg, the plan features four nuclear reactors.

According to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority the materials were “en route from the Ringhals industrial park into a protected area … and did not enter the facility.”

Officials say based on the truck and the type of materials they discovered no “serious damage” would have been caused had an explosion occurred.

Sweden receives almost 50% of its power from nuclear power plants, the destruction of even one reactor could have sent energy prices soaring while causing potential threats for people in the surrounding area.