NSW: Lucas Heights reactor to stay open despite terror threat

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2000
NSW: Lucas Heights reactor to stay open despite terror threat

Science Minister NICK MINCHIN'S office says Sydney's nuclear reactor won't be closed
down during the Olympics - despite a terrorist threat.

Police in New Zealand have foiled a plot to damage the reactor at Lucas Heights in
Sydney's south.

They say it was hatched by Afghan sympathisers of international terrorist mastermind
OSAMA BIN LADEN.

Police revealed the terrorist threat after raiding a property in Auckland and finding
it was set up like a command centre -- with detailed maps of Sydney.

The maps included one highlighting access routes to and from the Lucas Heights reactor.







Sutherland Shire councillor GENEVIEVE RANKIN says the federal government should follow
the lead set by the United States during the Atlanta Games and shut the reactor down.

But a spokesman for SENATOR MINCHIN'S office says Australian authorites have made an
assessment and have advised that the risk is low.

And a spokeswoman for federal Attorney-General DARYL WILLIAMS says official inquiries
have revealed there is no credible threat to Lucas Heights at this stage.

But New South Wales police say all threats and security issues are treated seriously
and fully investigated.

They say they have been fully briefed by New Zealand police.

AAP RTV jo/wjf

KEYWORD: OLY TERRORIST (SYDNEY)

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