(Reuters) "Do we know that they have those devices? No, we don't. Did we deploy radioactive detection equipment in Salt Lake? Yes, we did. And at other places, at the Super Bowl? Yes we have," Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig said on CNN's "Late Edition."
Craig's comments followed a Washington Post report the Bush administration had been deploying radiation sensors at key locations around Washington and at US border positions, prompted by fears al Qaeda may be making progress in obtaining nuclear weapons.
The sensors, known as gamma ray and neutron flux detectors, have been deployed since November, the newspaper said, citing US government policymakers.
"We know that our enemies seek to acquire means to harm us. The president is focused on preventing attacks from whatever source and I won't discuss any details or specifics," White House spokesman Taylor Gross said when asked about the Post report.
The United States placed sophisticated radiation sensors at the Winter Olympics and at the Super Bowl amid concern Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network may have access to nuclear devices, a US Senator has said.
