Military personnel from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) removed “potentially hazardous” uranium after locating it during a raid on a soldier’s barracks room at Holsworthy Barracks. While the ADF did confirm they removed the substances from the base, it also declined to provide further details about the incident.
Sappers from the Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER) secured and removed the “small amount” of uranium ore and Geiger counter from the military base.
Australian Army sources confirmed that the individual legally bought the radioactive material online but also did not provide details if they would face disciplinary action for “storing the substance inside a military accommodation quarters.”
The individual who purchased the radioactive items is believed to belong to a Signal Squadron based at the barracks.
ADF members based at Holsworthy and other bases called the individual “Uranium Sig” in reference to both the uranium found and the unit he belonged to.