6 detained in Mexico radioactive material theft

Six people admitted to a hospital in central Mexico for radiation testing are suspects in the theft of a truck containing potentially deadly cobalt-60, a government official said Friday, according to media reports.

Of the detained men, aged 16 to 38, only the 16-year-old showed signs of radiation exposure but he was in good health, a spokeswoman for Hidalgo's Health Department said on condition of anonymity.

The six were detained Thursday as part of the investigation and taken to the general hospital in Pachuca for testing.

After being cleared by health authorities on Friday, the men were turned over to federal authorities in connection with the case of the cargo truck stolen Monday at gunpoint outside Mexico City. The cobalt-60 it was carrying was from obsolete radiation therapy equipment.

By Ruchi Singh

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

6 detained in Mexico radioactive material theft

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