Files emerge in nuclear spy case
Documents have come to light in the case of an international nuclear smuggling operation - despite an order by the government that the files be destroyed.
The justice ministry said it was notified that copies of shredded documents still existed at the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. The documents relate to Swiss engineers suspected of involvement in a trafficking ring operated by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
The Swiss authorities are awaiting recommendations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on how to deal with the documents, according to a statement by the ministry on Wednesday.
A parliamentary control committee has demanded that all papers be handed over to help an investigation into Urs, Marco and Friedrich Tinner, who are believed to have worked as undercover agents for the United States.
In November 2007 the Swiss government ordered the documents destroyed, saying it was in the interest of international security. The documents were reportedly designs for nuclear warheads.
There is speculation that Washington asked the Swiss government to destroy the documents.
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