Explosion at BAE Systems weapons factory as 'all emergency services' rush to scene

Aerial view of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Glascoed

A military weapons factory for Europe’s largest contractor has been rocked by an explosion.

The incident took place just before 11am this morning at BAE Systems Glascoed in Monmouthshire, south Wales.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 10.49am on Wednesday 17th April, an incident occurred at the premises of BAE Systems Glascoed when an explosion occurred within a building. All Emergency Services are at the scene and an Incident Control Post has been set up to deal with the incident.”

Speaking to the South Wales Argus, a local resident said “it wasn’t that loud” but that the explosive rumble “felt like an earthquake.” They added that the force of the blast made their car shake.”

A BAE Systems spokesman revealed that the blast happened at a remote factory usually used to fill shells, adding that there were no injuries reported. They told The Sun: “It’s in a very remote part of the site. We have confirmed that there are no injuries.

In a statement, they added: “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.”

Earlier this year, the factory was the setting of a major protest as pro-Palestinian demonstrators shut down the site, accusing the company of supplying F-35 stealth fighters and 155mm artillery shells to the Israeli Defence Forces.

The site is a factory run by BAE Systems, the largest military contractor in Europe. The company produces ammunition, missile launchers and artillery systems.

The BAE Systems website provides information about its Monmouthshire site online. It reads: “The BAE Systems Glascoed facility sits amidst rolling hills of Monmouthshire, between Pontypool and the market town of Usk. This is an area where King Arthur ruled, Romans bathed, Normans set up home and pilgrims came to worship. Today it is still as busy as ever, providing employment for around 500 people, largely from the local area.”

It was built as a bomb-filling factory for the Royal Navy in the lead up to the Secnd World War. At the end of last year, the company started working on a new bomb-making building on the site.

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