In brief: Photos track work at nuke site in Iran

Washington – Iran has razed two buildings and bulldozed earth at the Parchin military complex where international nuclear monitors suspect a test of nuclear weapons explosives was carried out in 2003, a Washington think tank has alleged, based on recent satellite imagery.

The Institute for Science and International Security based its conclusions on satellite photos taken over the Parchin facility between April 9 and May 25, showing evidence of heavy equipment traffic around the suspected explosives test chamber and the eventual disappearance from the site of two auxiliary buildings.

“These activities raise further concerns of Iranian efforts to destroy evidence of alleged past nuclear weaponization activities,” said the report written by David Albright, president and founder of ISIS, and Robert Avagyan, a research analyst at the think tank monitoring nuclear proliferation issues. The institute does consulting work for the U.S. government but is considered a neutral source of information on Iran’s nuclear developments.

Suspect in mailing of body parts vanishes

Ottawa, Ontario – A Canadian porn actor suspected of mailing body parts to the headquarters of two major political parties after making a video of the killing might have fled to France, police said Thursday.

A Montreal police official said they have information that Luka Rocco Magnotta might have left Canada for France but said his current whereabouts are not known.

Magnotta, 29, has been added to Interpol’s “wanted persons” list.

The case began Tuesday when police found a man’s torso in a suitcase behind Magnotta’s apartment building and a severed foot was found in a package mailed to the Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa. A hand was found in a separate package at a postal facility, addressed to the Liberal Party of Canada.

Other body parts remain missing, and Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere said police are investigating the possibility that they also may have been put in the mail.