Sunday, December 1, 2024

‘No nuclear threat’, police say after huge fire near UK submarine shipyard



CNN

A massive fire has broken out at one of Britain’s biggest security firms.

Fire crews and police were responding to a fire near BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, northwest England, emergency officials said early Wednesday.

BAE Systems is one of Europe’s largest defense contractors. Its subsidiary, BAE Systems Submarines, is headquartered in Barrow-in-Furness and builds and assembles the UK’s nuclear submarines.

“There is no nuclear risk,” Cumbria Police said in a statement on X. “However, people living nearby are advised to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed.”

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Services shared similar advice on its X account.

Police said that the incident was reported at 12.44 midnight local time on Wednesday. The cause of the fire was not disclosed.

Two people were hospitalized with suspected smoke inhalation.

CNN reached out to BAE Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence, which referred questions to BAE Systems.

Photos shared on social media showed flames and smoke rising from an industrial building near the shipyard.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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