Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


13

Hadron Collider Physicist Admits He Was Al-Qaeda Mole

Standford University Ph.D. was about to mount attack: officials

Share

(Newser) – A top-level nuclear physicist working on the Hadron Collider has admitted being an Al-Qaeda spy, French officials are reporting. Adlène Hicheur, 32, is expected to be charged today after investigators discovered he suggested targets to the terror organization, reports the Independent. French officials believe the Stanford University Ph.D. was being groomed to become the "pivot" of a terror campaign starting in France but possibly spreading to other European nations.

Hicheur, born to Algerian parents in France, has worked in Britain and the US. Officials moved on him in recent days as they became convinced he was about to mount an attack. Investigators do not believe his work at the Hadron Collider on the Swiss-French border, the world's largest particle accelerator, was part of his terror planning.

A CERN scientist controls a computer screen showing traces on an experiment of the first protons injected in the Hadron Collider during its switch on operation last year.
A CERN scientist controls a computer screen showing traces on an experiment of the first protons injected in the Hadron Collider during its switch on operation last year.   (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, Pool, File)
A model of the Large Hadron Collider tunnel is seen in the CERN visitors' center in Geneva-Meyrin, Switzerland.
A model of the Large Hadron Collider tunnel is seen in the CERN visitors' center in Geneva-Meyrin, Switzerland.   (Getty Images)
A workman checks out CERN's Hadron Collider, the world's largest and most powerful particle collider. A French physicist working there had admitted to officials he was an Al-Qaeda mole.
A workman checks out CERN's Hadron Collider, the world's largest and most powerful particle collider. A French physicist working there had admitted to officials he was an Al-Qaeda mole.   (Photo: Business Wire)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
13 comments
VIEWING:
 
SilenceDogood
Oct 12, 09 3:41 AM CDT
But I thought the war on terror was over. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-4
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Oct 12, 09 5:15 AM CDT
What a conversation starter you are, SD. A magic 8-ball would be just as much fun to talk to, methinks...
Vote up! Vote down!
+11
IN RESPONSE:
riffran
Oct 12, 09 5:56 AM CDT
not over, just re-named to "man caused disaster"..
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
odowd80
Oct 12, 09 7:11 AM CDT
The war on terror is over. Notice the U.S. Military was not involved in his uncovering and arrest. More evidence that launching a war is unnecessary to combat terrorism, since police investigations work better.
Vote up! Vote down!
+7
IN RESPONSE:
SilenceDogood
Oct 14, 09 6:15 AM CDT
Odowd80, your attempt at rationalizing Obama’s recent statement that the “war on terror is over”, in light of two recent terrorist incidences is laughable. Take a second shot of purple Kool-Aid and enjoy your day.
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 13 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

2 Stories

Nuclear Scientist Arrested for Alleged al-Qaeda Ties

CERN says researcher didn't work on dangerous projects

Oct 9, 09 2:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - French authorities have arrested a researcher working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on suspicion that he has been in contact with al-Qaeda. Police say they believe the 32-year-old and his brother contacted people linked to the terror group online, and they had been planning an attack in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
terrorism • France • al-Qaeda • CERN • Large Hadron Collider • European Organization for Nuclear Research • LHC Beauty

 Balky Collider Offline Into '09 

Lengthy repair times, and necessary winter maintenance, delay Large Hadron Collider

Sep 23, 08 3:52 PM CDT
(Newser) - A serious malfunction, and the necessarily slow progress of repairs, will keep the Large Hadron Collider from starting its first experiments until spring, the Times reports. A major problem Friday shut down the European atom-smasher, and officials said the heating, repair and recooling of the giant magnets would take 2... More »

MORE ABOUT:
France • Switzerland • delay • repair • CERN • Large Hadron Collider • particle physics

2 Stories


World 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
Algeria • France • physicist • scientist • al-Qaeda • terror network • CERN • Large Hadron Collider • terror attack • Adlène Hicheur

from our news partners