AWE given all clear by bomb disposal team

Buildings evacuated at atomic weapons base after suspect package found at fire station

AN ARMY bomb disposal team sent to investigate a suspect package found within the site of the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston this afternoon (Tues) have given the site the all clear.

In a statement following the incident, AWE spokesman Alan Price, said: "A suspect package discovered during a training exercise at the AWE Aldermaston fire station has been safely dealt with by an Army bomb disposal team this afternoon.

An exclusion zone was established within the site while the package was investigated. The incident had no impact on those living outside the site."

It is believed two buildings close to the main gate were evacuated while the investigation was carried out.

Mr Price said the package was discovered at 2pm, with the Army bomb disposal team immediately called in.

The situation was then assessed by emergency services at AWE, he continued, which decided to set up an exclusion zone within the site and not outside and to evacuate staff from buildings in the immediate vicinity.

"It did not impact anyone off-site," he said.

The bomb disposal squad established at around 3.30pm that the package was "non-malicious" before the all-clear was sounded, around one-and-a-half hours after the package had first been discovered.

AWE manufactures and provides the warheads for the UK's nuclear deterrent, Trident and is one of the area's largest employers, with some 4,500 staff.