Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 17:30
AFP News Briefs ListSwedish police release nuclear sabotage suspects
Two contractors suspected of planning to sabotage a nuclear power plant in southern Sweden, possibly using explosives, have been released from custody, police said Thursday.
"The two were released at 12:15 pm (1015 GMT)," Kenth Andersson of the Kalmar county police told AFP, refusing to provide any further details on whether they were still suspects.
The two men were arrested on Wednesday after a routine security control at the entrance to the Oskarshamn nuclear plant detected traces of highly explosive material on the handle of a plastic bag one of the men was carrying.
The men, identified only as Swedish nationals born in 1955 and 1962, had been working for several weeks as welders on one of the plant's three reactors, which had been shut down for maintenance.
A search of that reactor turned up no explosives or other suspicious material, police said, adding that a second reactor was being shut down to be searched as well.
Police refused to release any further details before a scheduled press conference at 1:30 pm (1130 GMT).
Images
Police secure the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant in southern Sweden. Two contractors suspected of planning to sabotage the nuclear power plant have been released from custody.
© 2007 AFP Paul Madej
