Disclosing the true nature of the Sy 2 galaxy NGC 3281: One more Compton-thick source

We present the BeppoSAX broad-band X–ray spectrum of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3281. The source high-energy spectrum is characterized by the nuclear transmitted component, with an absorbing column density of ≈2$\times$1024 cm-2, while the MECS spectrum is reflection-dominated, with a prominent ($EW\approx0.5$–1.2 keV) iron Kα emission line. The source is detected at only the 5σ significance level in the LECS band, because of the strong obscuration which hampers at low energies the direct view of the active nucleus harbored in NGC 3281. BeppoSAX results are consistent with the scenario where NGC 3281 is inclined more than 60° with respect to the line-of-sight. Combining the NH value obtained from the present X–ray analysis with the AV measurement, a $N_{\rm H}/A_{\rm V}$ about 50 times the Galactic value is derived