Explosion rocks arms factory operated by Europe's largest military contractor
By richardbrown // 2024-04-24
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An explosion occurred on the morning of April 17 at an arms factory in Wales, which is operated by Europe's largest military contractor. Emergency services rushed to the BAE Systems Glascoed facility in the village of Glascoed, located in the Welsh county of Monmoutshire, after the blast. Fortunately, the incident happened in a remote area of the site and no injuries were reported. Nevertheless, the blast had enough power to cause the ground to tremble as per the South Wales Argus. A spokesperson for BAE Systems confirmed the incident, adding that established safety protocols were immediately activated and all personnel were safely evacuated. The company's emergency steam conducted an ongoing monitoring of the Glascoed site, and a comprehensive investigation into the incident was subsequently launched. According to initial assessments, the explosion was accidental with no indication of malicious intent. (Related: 150k square-foot ammunition plant in Nebraska mysteriously EXPLODES – is this another planned assault on vital U.S. infrastructure?) The London-based BAE Systems, which operates the Glascoed site, is renowned for producing ammunition, missile launchers and artillery systems. The facility, which employs approximately 500 staff members, was first established in 1938 as a bomb-filling factory for the Royal Navy during World War II. The Glascoed site has also garnered attention from pro-Palestine demonstrators in recent months. They alleged that BAE Systems has links to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), who are currently engaged in the wanton bombing of the Gaza Strip. Despite external pressures, BAE Systems remains focused on ensuring the safety and security of its operations while conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.

BAE Systems under fire for unauthorized developments on Glascoed site

Recent developments at the Glascoed facility include the construction of a new bomb-making building, which the company initiated late last year. Plans for this new development, which include the building itself and its surrounding blast mounds, were submitted on Dec. 1, 2023. But in January 2024, the BBC reported that construction of the facilities happened without prior planning over six months ago. The state-owned outlet's revelation followed the publication of BAE Systems' planning application – almost a month after it was submitted to the Monmouthshire Council. It was only after pressure from the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service that the council made the arms maker's application form public. Despite its historical significance, applications for new developments at the site follow unconventional procedures. They are not readily available on Monmouthshire Council's planning website. Instead, interested parties must schedule appointments to view the plans, with copying prohibited due to the site's sensitive nature. Further scrutiny of the application form revealed that construction on the new facility had commenced in May of the preceding year, a fact disclosed when BAE Systems sought pre-application advice from council planners on June 15. The application, affirming the ongoing work, emphasizes the potential creation of 50 full-time jobs and alludes to other undisclosed plans, including a flood risk assessment and sensitive details regarding the storage of hazardous substances. Charlotte Fleming, a Glascoed resident living near the munitions factory, concern over the lack of transparency and opportunity for public input. She stressed the democratic principles that should underscore the planning process. In response, BAE Systems clarified that a comprehensive public consultation had been conducted as part of the planning application for the new production facility at Glascoed, stressing the critical nature of the facility in supplying essential defense stocks for the British Ministry of Defense. The company acknowledged the initiation of construction before obtaining planning permission, citing the urgency of the project. For its part, the Monmouthshire Council has since updated its website with a statement outlining the application process at Glascoed. Head over to NationalSecurity.news for similar stories. Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams warning of explosions similar to the April 17 incident at Glascoed, which are meant to sabotage critical infrastructure. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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