According to reports, an explosion rocked a BAE Systems weapons plant in Glascoed, Monmouthshire (Wales).
Locals living near the plant said the blast felt like an earthquake.
“BAE Systems plc is a British multinational aerospace, defence and information security company, based in London, England. It is the biggest manufacturer in Britain as of 2017. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe and the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues,” Wikipedia states.
The Wales plant is the United Kingdom’s only munitions factory.
An explosion has occurred at the BAE Systems Glascoed arms factory in Monmouthshire, Wales
The fire service said on X: ‘At 10.49am on Wednesday 17th April, an incident occurred at the premises of BAE Systems Glascoed when an explosion occurred'https://t.co/lz2QUbOJA9
— Metro (@MetroUK) April 17, 2024
Per Daily Mail:
Emergency services were deployed to the site, which is spread across a large field close to the south-eastern village; locals say the blast ‘wasn’t loud, but felt like an earthquake’.
BAE Systems has promised a full investigation into the incident at the factory, which is the UK’s last remaining munitions filling factory.
BAE says the Glascoed plant employs around 500 people. The firm is Europe’s biggest military contractor with several sites across the UK.
A local told the South Wales Argus: ‘It wasn’t that loud from where I was but it felt like an earthquake. My car shook.’
A BAE Systems spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that there was an incident at our Glascoed facility in Wales this morning.
‘Tried and tested safety protocols were immediately enacted and emergency services attended the site.
‘All personnel are accounted for and our emergency response team continues to monitor the facility. We have launched a full investigation.’
An explosion occurred at a plant producing ammunition components for the British company BAE Systems in Wales, – Telegraph
No injuries have been reported at this time and the company has launched an investigation. pic.twitter.com/X0PYQwVkgs
— — GEROMAN — time will tell – 👀 — (@GeromanAT) April 17, 2024
Per Metro:
It is believed that the explosion was an accident and no malicious intent was behind it.
BAE Systems is the largest military contractor in Europe, producing ammunition, missile launchers and artillery systems.
The Glascoed site was built in 1938 as a bomb-filling factory for the Royal Navy in the run-up to World War Two.
Today, it employs roughly 500 people, according to BAE Systems.
The company began work late last year on a new bomb-making building at the 1,000-acre site.
In recent months, it has been targeted by pro-Palestine protesters who claim the company has links to the Israeli military.
The incident follows a reported fire at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
DEVELOPING: Emergency Personnel Reportedly Respond To Fire At Army Ammunition Plant
