Belgium's vulnerable nuclear plants facing threat of terror attacks

Brussels

AS a dragnet aimed at Islamic State operatives spiralled across Brussels and into at least five European countries, Belgian authorities were also focusing on a narrower but increasingly alarming threat: the vulnerability of the country's nuclear installations.

The investigation into last week's deadly attacks in Brussels has prompted worries that the Islamic State is seeking to attack, infiltrate or sabotage nuclear installations or obtain nuclear or radioactive material. This is especially worrying in a country with a history of security lapses at its nuclear facilities, a weak intelligence apparatus and a deeply rooted terrorist network.