JERUSALEM - Israeli police detained nuclear spy Mordechai Vanunu yesterday as he tried to pass through a West Bank checkpoint in an apparent violation of restrictions imposed after his release from prison in 2004.

Paramilitary border police carried out a spot check on a bus travelling through al-Ram checkpoint toward Jerusalem, and noticed Vanunu among the passengers, a police spokesman said.

Vanunu was jailed in 1986 after discussing his work at the Dimona reactor with a British newspaper.

His disclosures led independent experts to conclude Israel has 100 to 200 nuclear bombs. Israel does not comment on its nuclear capabilities.