BAE Systems has released a statement saying that "nothing suspicious was found" at their Devonshire facility "following an extensive sweep" of the facility. The company said the decision to evacuate the facility was "purely precautionary," and based on employee safety being the company's "first priority."
BAE Systems confirm "nothing suspicious found" at nuclear submarines dockyard in Barrow following extensive sweep in wake of bomb warning.
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) 10 април 2019 г.
Fully statement from the company — pic.twitter.com/aOzRccFpTA
Earlier Wednesday, a BAE Systems spokesperson said that its shipbuilding facility on Barrow Island in Barrow-in-Furness had been evacuated following media reports of a bomb on a nuclear submarine.
"As a precaution, the Devonshire Dock Complex has been closed," the spokesperson said, according to Reuters. "Staff, contractors and local residents are being kept informed," she added.
The spokesperson also confirmed to The Independent that BAE Systems was liaising with local police, who were said to be investigating the incident.
A police spokesman cited by The Guardian confirmed that "police are on site at BAE and assisting staff". The North West ambulance service said it received a call at 9:18 am local time. "We are currently on the scene but there are no known casualties," a spokesperson said.
Earlier, an unidentified source told local newspaper The Mail that hundreds of staff had been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock following a warning about a bomb on board an Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine.
Media reported that police and ambulances were on the scene at the dock.
BREAKING: The BAE Systems facility at Barrrow has been evacuated after reports of a bomb on board an Astute class submarine (probably HMS Audacious)
— Henry Jones (@hthjones) 10 април 2019 г.
BAE Systems spokesman said "We can confirm there is an ongoing incident at our Barrow site and we are liaising with Cumbria Police" pic.twitter.com/XLsAdURDSZ
Hearing…UK's main #nuclear #submarine manufacturing base at #Barrow is shutdown with staff sent home and #Police allegedly called…no more at this time! pic.twitter.com/F2WS5OZCX5
— Eddie Tofpik (@EddieTofpik) 10 април 2019 г.
[10.04-14:50] Cantiere navale #Barrow Barrow-in-Furness #Cumbria #Inghilterra #UK BAE Systems conferma che è stato evacuato #Devonshire Dock Hall dopo allarme per un possibile ordigno in un sottomarino nucleare pic.twitter.com/8f8ywOFsj1
— Emergenza24 (@Emergenza24) 10 април 2019 г.
Another mini update: @DefenceHQ say they hadn’t yet been made aware of the situation.
— Henry Jones (@hthjones) 10 април 2019 г.
For those speculating about security, I understand it’s not military police that are responsible for Barrow.
BAE Systems manage the security of the facility themselves.
Located in northern England, about 95 km northwest of Manchester, the Devonshire Dock Hall is one of the largest indoor shipbuilding facilities of its kind in Europe. The site is home to the construction of the Astute-class submarine, a 1.4 billion pound ($1.8 billion) nuclear-powered attack submarine in service with the Royal Navy. Four Astute-class submarines have been completed, with three under construction and another seven planned.
The facility is also responsible for the manufacture of a Dreadnought-class submarine, a new generation of ballistic missile subs set to replace the Vanguard-class which carries the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent.
