1998A&A...331..519M

The Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 7674 has been observed within the BeppoSAX Core Programme with the onboard narrow field instruments between 0.1 and 100keV. The broad-band spectrum shows four most relevant spectral components: a) a soft excess below ∼2keV; b) a prominent (EW∼1keV) Fe line; c) a flat ({GAMMA}_obs∼1.1) 2-10keV continuum; d) a 4.5σ detection above 13keV. The flat power law spectrum can be very well explained within the current AGN unified models assuming a steep ({GAMMA}∼2) intrinsic spectrum scattered by warm gas for the low energy band and totally reflected by optically thick cold matter (plausibly a molecular torus) for the high energy band. The case of NGC 7674 adds to the increasing number of so called ``Compton-thick'' Seyfert 2 galaxies in which the direct emission is totally absorbed and the X-ray luminosity is thus at least one or two orders of magnitude larger than what inferred from the observed flux.