Nuke plants & terrorism

January 29, 2013

Police seek more funds to guard nuclear plants

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20130130_05.html

Japan's National Police Agency plans to more heavily equip officers guarding nuclear power plants to raise preparedness for possible terrorist attacks.

The agency is requesting nearly 20 million dollars for the next fiscal year to buy more machine guns and bullet-proof vehicles to improve security at nuclear plants.

The requested amount is almost 4 times the budget for the current fiscal year that ends in March.

Police officers are stationed at nuclear facilities nationwide and guard them around the clock.

The agency has also decided to buy shields and other equipment for officers patrolling remote islands, including the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The plan will enable officers to protect themselves in case of attacks by foreigners who illegally enter Japanese waters.