Slovak Unit Prepared to Guard Olympics

Slovakia has joined the effort to safeguard the Athens Olympics from terrorism by readying a mobile laboratory able to detect contamination in case of an attack using weapons of mass destruction, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, July 15).

“A radiation unit comprising six members will be on a state of alert from Aug. 1 to 31 at Bratislava airport and will be capable of arriving in Greece within 12 hours in the event of a terrorist attack,” Slovakian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Monika Kuhajdova said. “The laboratory is capable of picking up toxic characteristics and radiation in the air, water and soil,” she added.

Greece requested the unit and would be responsible for transporting it to Athens if it were needed, according to AFP (Agence France-Presse/SpaceWar.com, July 19).

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