Global Security Newswire

Military personnel apprehended workers at a virology laboratory in southern Russia for allegedly attempting to steal a camera and notebook containing guarded information, Interfax reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 14, 2007).

Soldiers discovered the items separately within the same week during standard security inspections at the Vektor State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Novosibirsk, the Siberian regional command of the Russian interior troops announced. The facility maintains samples of smallpox, Ebola, Marburg fever and other viruses, according to Interfax.

Russian security officials assumed custody of the detained employees, the military command indicated (Interfax, March 10).