On Thursday, Australian border police searched a house south of Sydney and discovered what the local media called “nuclear isotopes.”
The Arncliffe area home was the subject of an early morning raid, and it is still blocked off with tape indicating that there may be a chemical, radioactive, or biological hazard within.
Red and yellow tape with the words “Contaminated area – do not enter – hot zone” separated the little brown-brick apartment building from the street.
While the Daily Telegraph claimed that cops had discovered nuclear isotopes, local commercial station Channel 10 reported that mercury and uranium isotopes had been discovered within.
Media reports that radioactive material was on or near the property were not confirmed by the Australian Border Force (ABF).
“The ABF can confirm it is conducting an operation today in Arncliffe, New South Wales, with the support of… emergency services,” a border force spokesperson said in a statement.
“All appropriate safety measures are being implemented.
“People in the vicinity of the location are urged to follow all directions from emergency services.”
Sam Abraham, 19, was trying to get home when he came across the closed road.
“It’s scary finding uranium in your neighbour’s house, you come into the street and there’s police,” he told AFP.
“It’s not something that usually happens in Arncliffe.”
“In the morning I heard the loud vehicles and all that stuff,” Nemr Khamis, 60, told AFP. “I glanced out of the window and I saw the ambulance and the fire brigade.
“Then I had to come out and look, then I went inside again. I had a shower and came back and when I came back I had a baby with me and the police told me to go inside.”
Khamis stated he spoke with family members who informed him that “some uranium is in the street just off the unit.”
Additionally refusing to accept the existence of nuclear material was the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.
“ARPANSA will continue to support relevant state and federal agencies in the ongoing management and resolution of the situation,” a spokesperson said.
