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Russia

‘Dirty bomb’: Mystery Russian ‘superweapon’ kills five

Source: News Corp Australia Network:
August 12, 2019 at 10:21
Russia said the missile test was part of efforts to develop new technologies for piercing missile defences. Picture: Russian Ministry of Defence via StoryfulSource:Storyful
Russia said the missile test was part of efforts to develop new technologies for piercing missile defences. Picture: Russian Ministry of Defence via StoryfulSource:Storyful
It was a small explosion, played down by Russian officials — until they were forced to admit five people were dead and many more are at risk.

When an experimental missile exploded at a secret Russian base, things were immediately odd. Children from the nearby city of Severodvinsk were sent home from school. Its 185,000 residents were told to stay indoors. Doses of Iodine were distributed. All shipping was barred from the area for at least 30 days.

What could cause such a reaction?

How could a relatively small explosion cause such confusion?

Russia’s nuclear energy agency Rosatom eventually stepped forward: It explained that a missile testing an “isotope power source for a liquid-fuelled rocket engine” had misfired.
 

NED-106-Blast at Russian missile test site - 0


Rosatom conceded the accident on Thursday night had killed five, and three were being treated for burns.

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