PRETORIA, South Africa, Nov 21, 2008 -- UPI

The unidentified gunmen who attempted to steal bomb-grade uranium from a South African nuclear plant may have had inside help, a worker's account indicates.

Pelindaba nuclear plant worker Anton Gerber described how despite having contacted security shortly after the November 2007 raid, it took security personnel 24 minutes to arrive, CBS reported Thursday.

"It shouldn't have taken more than 3 minutes to get there," Gerber told CBS' "60 Minutes" in an interview set to air Sunday.

The 30-year-old worker describes how he was able to temporarily hold off the gunmen but was shot in the chest and left for dead.

The four masked attackers escaped , as did a second group of gunmen situated near the plant's fence that night.

Pelindaba executive Rob Adam told CBS that the possibility the gunmen had inside assistance had been investigated.

"That did cross our minds and we put out a reward. We haven't had any takers at this point," the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa chief executive officer said.

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