Terrorists had plans of Sizewell

Sizewell B, near Leiston, Suffolk, was built between 1988 and 1995

Detailed plans of Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk were found in anti-terror raids after the July 2005 bomb attacks, it has been revealed.

The nuclear expert's lecture notes, which included layouts for the plant, came from the Sizewell public inquiry.

The expert told the BBC that after the 21 July attacks on London, a member of the anti-terrorist unit of the Metropolitan Police contacted him.

The notes had been given out at a lecture he gave at a UK university.

'Detailed plans'

The expert, who has asked not to be named, was sent an e-mail from the Metropolitan Police asking him how the "material could be used by those with criminal/terrorist intent".

The expert said he was told the notes about Sizewell were found in the back of a car connected to one of the 21 July bombers.

"What was so serious about this is that they had been collecting information over at least two years," he said.

"There were all these drawings and documents that showed detailed plans of Sizewell.

Greenpeace campaigner Paul Schot scales Sizewell B

"They were from a series of lectures I gave at a university."

He added that it was clear that nuclear plants such as Sizewell B could be targeted by terrorists.

The expert said nuclear plants "are not prepared enough" for an attack either by terrorists on the ground or through terrorists crashing a plane into the power station.

He said nuclear plants were designed to withstand accidents, not terrorist attacks.

He added he was concerned at the ease with which Greenpeace protesters breached the security of Sizewell in 2003.

The information could only be released following the conviction of four 21 July bombers.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers conducted tens of thousands of searches during the investigation into the 21 July bombings and could not say whether the Sizewell documents were recovered.

He said any documents were not used in the subsequent trial.

A British Energy spokesman said they had no knowledge of a specific threat to Sizewell B, but have robust security plans.