Tons of Gaddafi’s Uranium Have Gone Missing in Libya, Watchdog Says

Ten barrels containing uranium ore have disappeared from a site in Libya, according to United Nations inspectors.

Around two-and-a-half tons of the material was unaccounted for during an inspection this week of the storage location, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Thursday. Although natural uranium cannot immediately be used in a bomb, a group with technology required to enrich the metal could make around 12 pounds of weapons-grade material, experts say.

In a statement, the IAEA said of Tuesday’s inspection that “agency safeguards inspectors found that 10 drums containing approximately 2.5 tons of natural uranium in the form of uranium ore concentrate were not present as previously declared at a location in the state of Libya.” “Further activities will be conducted by the agency to clarify the circumstances of the removal of the nuclear material and its current location.”

Read more at The Daily Beast.