Gun battle in reactor control room - Nuclear industry tries to censor the story

bananas

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Sun Nov-11-07 10:09 PM
Original message

Gun battle in reactor control room - Nuclear industry tries to censor the story

WTF ???

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
9 November 2007, 07:17

A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured.

<snip>

The shooting comes four months after Necsa's newly appointed services general manager Eric Lerata, 43, was gunned down in front of his Montana home after returning from a business trip in France.

<snip>

Pushing Meiring underneath a desk, Gerber attacked two of the gunmen as they forced their way into the control room and ran straight for the control panel.

<snip>

Later in the afternoon, Pretoria News was phoned by a man identifying himself as a Necsa legal adviser, saying the newspaper will be breaching the National Keypoints Act by publishing the story.

<snip>
http://www.pretorianews.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20071109061218448C528585

More from Idaho Samizdat:

Friday, November 09, 2007

Gunmen attack South African nuclear site

Confusion about shooting at Pelindaba nuclear facility
(Hat tip to John Robb at Global Guerrillas)

An attack by three or four masked gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility in South Africa has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency services operational officer spoke to the Pretoria News from his hospital bed hours after the attack. He was shot in the chest when the gunmen stormed the facility's emergency response control room in the early hours of Thursday morning (11/8). The motive for the attack is unknown.

It isn't known at this time whether the gunmen were intent on damaging the nuclear materials area of the facility as part of a terrorist attack, wanted to steal nuclear materials, or had some other motive. Details on the attack are sparse due to censorship from the government. Portions of the original newspaper reports on the web have subsequently been taken down. For instance, one early report implied the gunmen were sent by a jealous rival for the affections of one of the nuclear plant's operators who was said to be romantically involved with Gerber.

<snip>

Not secure anymore

Pelindaba was regarded as one of the country's most secure national key points. Apparently, not any more. It is reportedly surrounded by electric fencing, has 24-hour CCTV surveillance, security guards and security controls and checkpoints. Apparently these controls were of little use in thwarting the attack. According to limited details in South African press reports, it is believed that the attackers gained access to the building by using a ladder from Pelindaba's fire house and scaling a wall.

<snip>

Nuclear Smuggling Case Emerges

It is apparently a busy week in South Africa for nuclear incidents. According to a report by a Pretoria TV station, a nuclear smuggling case is ongoing. It isn't known whether the case is related to the gunmen's attack on Pelindaba.

<snip>

http://djysrv.blogspot.com/2007/11/gunmen-attack-south-african-nuclear.html

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tabatha

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Sun Nov-11-07 11:38 PM
Response to Original message

1. other links

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/913720.htm

http://www.drudge.com/news/100644/gunmen-storm-nuclear-facility
(ugh)

http://www.da.org.za/DA/Site/Eng/News/Article.asp?ID=8377

http://www.dailynews.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20071108115931633C145340

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/message/101328

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bananas

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Mon Nov-12-07 01:49 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. Thanks - another one: now confirmed by police spokesman

http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=52511,1,22

Nuke officer shot inside Pelindaba

TSHIFHIWA SHONISANI

JOHANNESBURG – A senior manager at the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA (Necsa) was shot and wounded in an armed robbery at the Pelindaba nuclear facility early yesterday morning, the corporation said.

<snip>

Necsa spokesman Chantal Janneker said Anton Gerber, operations officer for Necsa Emergency Services, was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

She could not give more information because police were investigating the incident. But information had surfaced that Gerber had heard the noise in the control room and went to investigate. It was not known how many suspects there were.

North West police spokesman Senior Superintendent Pieter du Plessis confirmed that cases of armed robbery and attempted murder had been opened.

<snip>

Last updated
09/11/2007 19:29:15

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bananas

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Mon Nov-12-07 03:08 AM
Response to Reply #1

4. Official press release on their website

Here's the page on their website with press releases:

http://www.necsa.co.za/default.asp?pageid=813

Press room � Press releases

Report of Armed Robbery (2007-11-08)
An armed robbery occurred on the Necsa site last night. Mr FA Gerber, Operations Officer: Emergency Services was shot. He was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition. The police are investigating the incident.
PressReleases_Armed Robbery.pdf < 18.19 kb ~ 6.06 seconds @ 56kbps>

<snip>

Here's the text of the pdf:

http://www.necsa.co.za/scripts/buildfile.asp?filename=PressReleases_Armed%20Robbery.pdf

SOUTH AFRICAN NUCLEAR ENERGY CORPORATION (Necsa)
Media Statement: Report of Armed Robbery

An armed robbery occurred on the Necsa site last night. Mr FA Gerber, Operations Officer: Emergency Services was shot. He was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition. The police are investigating the incident. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate contact me directly on 083 488 3850.

Ends

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chantal Janneker
Senior Manager: Group Corporate Communication
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa)
Tel: +27 12 305 5750
Fax: +27 12 305 5751
Cell: +27 083 488 3850
E-mail: chantal @necsa.co.za

or

Shaun Chetty
Chief Media and Publications Officer
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa)
Tel: +27 12 305 5713
Fax: +27 12 305 5751
Cell: +27 083 628 0875
E-mail: shaun @necsa.co.za

Dated: 08 November 2007

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TheWraith

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Sun Nov-11-07 11:52 PM
Response to Original message

2. Sounds like bullshit to me.

If it were true, it would be being picked up by legitimate news organizations. Drudge doesn't count, and I don't know or trust Pretoria News.

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Kolesar

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Mon Nov-12-07 04:56 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. Would you believe WorldNetDaily?

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=%22Attack+at+%22%22Pelindaba%22
:slight sarcasm:

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TheWraith

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Mon Nov-12-07 05:45 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. More than "slight" sarcasm, I would hope. NT

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bananas

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Tue Nov-13-07 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. For those of you who can't google...

:no sarcasm:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=Pelindaba&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&scoring=d

Second Attack on South African Nuke Plant
Wired News - 2 hours ago
But there may well be invaluable research and data stored at the facility on the process of producing weapons-grade nuclear material at Pelindaba. ...

Armed gangs target safrican nuclear facility
Africasia, UK - 2 hours ago
... Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), said that a guard had been shot and wounded during one of the break-ins at the Pelindaba plant, west of Pretoria. ...

Intruders are targeting secret facility
Sowetan, South Africa - 4 hours ago
On the same night last week that four robbers shot an emergency officer at Pelindaba, West of Pretoria, another attempt was made to bypass the nuclear ...

Robbers try again at SA nuke site
Pretoria News (subscription), South Africa - 5 hours ago
On the same night last week that four robbers shot an emergency officer at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria, another attempt was made to bypass the nuclear ...

Robbers try again at SA nuke site
The South African Star (subscription), South Africa - 5 hours ago
On the same night last week that four robbers shot an emergency officer at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria, another attempt was made to bypass the nuclear ...

Shocking new information on
The Times, South Africa - 5 hours ago
INITIAL reports that criminals had gained access to South Africa’s high-security Pelindaba nuclear facility west of Pretoria were alarming in their own ...

Robbers try again at SA nuke site
Sunday Independent (subscription), South Africa - 5 hours ago
On the same night last week that four robbers shot an emergency officer at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria, another attempt was made to bypass the nuclear ...

South Africa nuclear research facility admits to second break-in
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - 6 hours ago
Johannesburg - Not one but two groups of intruders managed to breach security at South Africa's Pelindaba nuclear research facility last week, ...

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Earthtimes, UK - 6 hours ago
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Independent Online, South Africa - 6 hours ago
On the same night last week that four robbers shot an emergency officer at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria, another attempt was made to bypass the nuclear ...

THE REAL THREAT?
District Weekly, CA - Nov 11, 2007
On November 9, the Pretoria News reported on a “brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility”. Pelindaba is South Africa’s main nuclear ...

Attack on nuke facility a tad worrying, no?
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The attack by armed gunmen took place at the country’s Pelindaba nuclear plant. The Pretoria news reported on Friday that gunmen “stormed the facility’s ...

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The attack at the Pelindaba nuclear facility took place early Thursday morning, reported the Pretoria News. According to Anton Gerber, an emergency services ...

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Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Sunday Tribune (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
The Mercury (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Cape Argus (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Daily News (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Post (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007

A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...
Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility

Cape Times (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Independent on Saturday (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Independent Online, South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

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iAfrica.com, South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
Police Superintendent Koos Degenaar said Anton Gerber, the operations officer for emergency services at Necsa, was shot in the chest at the Pelindaba ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Pretoria News (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
The South African Star (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

Attack at Pelindaba nuclear facility
Sunday Independent (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A brazen attack by four gunmen on the Pelindaba nuclear facility has left a senior emergency officer seriously injured. Anton Gerber, Necsa emergency ...

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The Times, South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
... the operations officer for emergency services at the corporation, was shot in the chest at the Pelindaba nuclear facility yesterday morning. ...

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News24, South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
Superintendent Koos Degenaar said Anton Gerber, the operations officer for emergency services at Necsa, was shot in the chest at the Pelindaba nuclear ...

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Independent on Saturday (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
The Mercury (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Cape Times (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Cape Argus (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Daily News (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Sunday Tribune (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Post (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Pretoria News (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
The South African Star (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Independent Online, South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

Nuke ops man shot during gang raid
Sunday Independent (subscription), South Africa - Nov 8, 2007
A senior Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) employee was shot during an attack at Pelindaba. It remains unknown how exactly three armed men ...

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bananas

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Nov-17-07 08:51 AM
Response to Reply #2

8. The NY Times, CBS News, Houston Chronicle, and AP have finally picked up the story

Edited on Sat Nov-17-07 08:56 AM by bananas

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/5306562.html
Reactor raid renews worry over nuclear power in Africa
Houston Chronicle, United States - Nov 15, 2007
AP JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Armed men infiltrated a nuclear reactor and research facility near Pretoria last week, shooting and wounding an employee, ...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/15/world/main3505603.shtml
S. Africa Mum Over Nuclear Site Break-In
CBS News, NY - Nov 15, 2007
(CBS) A week after gunmen broke into South Africa's most secretive nuclear facility, shot a man and tried to steal a computer, the nation's government ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/world/africa/15joburg.html?ref=africa
Nuclear Break-in Baffles South Africa
New York Times, United States - Nov 14, 2007
By MICHAEL WINES JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 14 — This much is known: Just after midnight on Nov. 8, Anton Gerber was sitting with his fianc�e in the control room of ...

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