Hundreds form human chain round German nuclear storage site

AHAUS - Several hundred nuclear energy opponents formed a human chain around a German nuclear storage site Sunday, to protest against transports of radioactive material.

The storage site in Ahaus, near the Dutch border, holds spent nuclear fuel rods that were intended for a Russian reprocessing plant, until the Environment Ministry ruled last week that the Majak nuclear facility did not meet necessary safety standards.

Sunday’s protesters wanted to prevent any other planned deliveries to or from Ahaus, as well as expressing solidarity with people in Russia where nuclear safety standards were below par, organizers said.

Mayak, a city in the Urals, is thought to be more strongly contaminated that Chernobyl, where a nuclear reactor accident released highly radioactive material that spread as far as southern Germany in 1986.

Police said 500 took part in Sunday’s demonstration, while organizers said 700 were present.

In the German coastal town of Lubmin on the Baltic coast, more demonstrations were planned over the coming days in protest at a nuclear waste delivery due to arrive Thursday.