In the early noughties the UK Government introduced a project named Programme Cyclamen with the aim of becoming a key part of the government's counter-terrorism strategy. It involved the screening of incoming freight, vehicles, passengers and pedestrians to detect and deter the illicit importation of radioactive and nuclear material by terrorists or criminals.

The project involved the positioning of equipment which provides the capability to routinely screen all forms of traffic at UK points of entry for the illicit movement of radioactive materials, and is complemented by a fleet of Mobile Radiation Detection Units (MRDUs).

These Mobile Units are deployed on a risk and intelligence-led basis throughout the UK as and when required. Now, the detection of the contraband Uranium being found at Heathrow Airport, in a package which had originated in Pakistan; The worry is that a dirty bomb was being planned and it is this that the Counter Terrorism Unit will be more concerned about.