Radioactive assassinations

["Clement, Christopher" <clementc@aecl.ca>]

>Radsafers:
>
>I recently read an article in the Ottawa Citizen (1 Oct 97) titled "Official
>says Russia needs mines to guard nuclear plants, weapons".  Although it had
>little to do with the main thrust of the piece, the following is a passage
>from that article:
>
>"Intelligence agents say that ... minuscule amounts of radioactive dust can
>be used to commit virtually undetectable murders.  In recent years, Russian
>mobsters have planted radioactive materials in office chairs and telephones
>to kill their rivals."
>
>Has anyone heard about this before?  Are there any confirmed "murders" where
>radiation was used as the weapon?  Is this even a reasonable possibility?  I
>have an academic interest only!
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>Christopher H. Clement
>Scientific Specialist / Radiation Protection Program Manager
>Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Office
>Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
>clementc@aecl.ca
>