U.K. plant producing AstraZeneca vaccines partially evacuated over suspicious package, 27 Jan 2021

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/astrazeneca-vaccine-factory-suspicious-package-1.5889522
''A factory in Wales that produces AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine was partially evacuated on Wednesday after it received a suspicious package and police said a bomb disposal unit was dealing with the incident''.

''AstraZeneca is also in a dispute with the European Union after it cut vaccine supplies to the bloc because of production issues at its Belgian factory.''

"Upon expert advice we have partially evacuated the site pending a full investigation. The safety of our employees and business continuity remain of paramount importance," it said.

Local police confirmed that a bomb disposal unit was on site and advised the public to avoid the area.''

 

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Covid: Wrexham suspicious package suspends vaccine production
''The Army said it was "assisting the authorities in Wrexham" and "an investigation is ongoing".

In a statement, Wockhardt UK said: "Production at the Wockhardt site is currently on hold while the situation is resolved, because the safety of our staff is paramount.''

''The Wrexham plant has the capability to produce around 300 million doses of the vaccine a year.

John Roberts, who runs CMS Wrexham Ltd, next door to the plant, said he heard a "big bang" at about 11:35 GMT - although he could not say where the noise came from.'

''Visiting the plant in November, Prime Minister Boris Johnson it could provide "salvation for humanity".''

Covid vaccine production halted at Wrexham plant after 'suspicious package'
''Wockhardt UK clinched a deal in August to help prepare the vaccine for distribution.''

The bomb squad were called to the plant that make around 300 million vaccine vials per yearCredit: �AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

 

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UK AstraZeneca vaccine plant says production unaffected by suspect package
''A suspicious package at an AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine plant in Wales which forced a temporary suspension of manufacturing has been made safe and production schedules of the shots have not been affected, the company Wockhardt UK said on Wednesday.

The Wockhardt plant in Wrexham provides so-called fill-and-finish capacity for AstraZeneca's UK supply chain, which is the final manufacturing step of putting vaccines into vials or syringes and packaging them.

Wockhardt said there had been a partial evacuation of its site after it received package on Wednesday morning, and that manufacturing was paused while the package was investigated.

"We can now confirm that the package was made safe and staff are now being allowed back into the facility," Wockhardt UK said in a statement. "This temporary suspension of manufacturing has in no way affected our production schedule."

Police, who called out the bomb disposal squad to the incident, did not clarify whether the package had posed a threat but said the contents would be analysed and there would be an investigation into the circumstances.''

 

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Chatham man arrested by police probing bomb threat at Wrexham Covid vaccine factory
''Police have detained a man after a suspicious package was sent to a coronavirus vaccine production site.

All staff had to be evacuated from the Wockhardt site in Wrexham, North Wales, on Wednesday while the package was investigated.''

''The 53-year-old, from Chatham, remains in custody.

As part of ongoing inquiries, police carried out warrants at addresses in Luton Road and Chatham Hill in the Medway town on Thursday morning.''

 

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Nov 24 2021 rbbm.
'Lonely and bored' man jailed for bomb scare at Welsh vaccine factory

Anthony Collins who has been jailed after sending a suspicious package to the vaccine factory in Wrexham where production was halted in January

''A MAN with an “obsessive interest” in Covid-19 has been jailed after sending a suspicious package to a Welsh vaccine factory and sparking a bomb scare.

Anthony Collins, 54, also sent similar parcels to 10 Downing Street and a laboratory in Wuhan in China, among others, a court heard.

Production of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab at premises in Wrexham ground to a halt in January, causing “mayhem”.

Collins, from Kent, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday for sentencing after being found guilty of dispatching an article by post with the intention of inducing the belief it is likely to explode or ignite.''

''Similar packages sent by Collins to 10 Downing Street, AstraZeneca, a US Air Force base in Gloucestershire, a laboratory in Wuhan and what appeared to be the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, were intercepted.''

''Detective Inspector Adam Marshall, Kent Police’s senior investigating officer for the case, said: “Collins was fully aware of the impact his actions would have and chose to impede the vaccine rollout when the programme was still in its infancy.''