Greenpeace demonstrates nuclear vulnerability

Activist paraglides into nuclear facility

Greenpeace and energy officials say an environmental activist was arrested after dropping a billowing smoke bomb onto the roof of a French nuclear reactor from a motorised paraglider.

Scoop,

3 May, 2012

Video footage from the dramatic stunt on Wednesday morning (local time) showed the airborne activist after he dropped the smoke bomb at the Bugey site 35 kilometres (22 miles) east of Lyon and began circling the reactor to start his descent to the ground.

Greenpeace nuclear spokesman, Yannick Rousselet, told The Associated Press the spectacle by its activist was meant to "highlight the vulnerability of nuclear sites."

Plant owner EDF has defended the site's security measures, saying in a statement they "were strengthened in late 2011 (to) allow detection and immediate apprehension of the perpetrator."

The name of the activist was not released.