The element that police found in Turkey's capital Ankara on Monday is not a radioactive Californium element as widely reported, according to Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) on Tuesday.
Turkish police found the material on Monday after they searched a car in Ankara's Pursaklar suburb. Local and international media reported that the element was 1,441 grams of Californium potentially worth $70 million (276 million Turkish liras).
After the police operation, the element was taken to experts at TAEK's Saraykoy Nuclear Research Center for investigation where after initial testing; they found that the material is an organic-based resin - sodium 4-styrenesulfonate.
The TAEK experts found that "the element did not show any radioactive properties."
Following TAEK's initial testing, the police were informed and further analysis is still ongoing.
By Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr