U.K. police investigating uranium-tainted cargo at Heathrow
NBCNov 02, 2022
The Facts
Pakistan has rejected allegations in the British press that a package containing uranium, which arrived at London’s Heathrow airport in December, originated from the South Asian nation.
A discovery of metal bars embedded with uranium at Heathrow in late December triggered a counter-terrorism investigation. The probe focused on why the substance was concealed in an airplane shipment of scrap metal.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The shipment of uranium into Heathrow is worrying. Uranium is a dangerous substance that could have been used to make a dirty bomb. There are even concerns that the smuggling of the substance could have been part of a wider plot by state-backed Iranian terrorists to smuggle material into the country in order to target UK-based dissidents opposed to the regime in Tehran.
Establishment-critical narrative
Reports blaming Pakistan for the package containing uranium may unjustifiably damage the country's reputation. No information on the case has been officially shared with Pakistani authorities. A more efficient and detailed investigation can happen if relevant information is shared with the Pakistani side. The UK needs to involve Pakistani authorities before making unsubstantiated claims.