2 in hospital after fire at UK nuclear submarine shipyard

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – At least two people were hospitalized when a fire broke out at a nuclear submarine shipyard in Cumbria, northwest of England early Wednesday.

The incident at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness was “reported at around 00.44am this morning (30 Oct) and remains on-going,” a statement from Cumbria police said.

Police said there was “no nuclear risk,” but asked people living nearby to “remain indoors whilst emergency services respond to the incident and keep doors and windows closed.”

The statement said there were no casualties but two people were taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation.

A report by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a London-based non-governmental organization, earlier this year shed new light on the extensive global reach of BAE Systems, the UK’s largest arms manufacturer.

The report, How BAE Systems Helped Arm Half the World, underscores concern regarding the company’s sales of weapons to countries accused of human rights abuses and corruption.

An area of particular scrutiny in the report is BAE Systems’ ties with Israel.

The report highlights the firm’s role in a consortium supplying F-35 fighter jets to Israel, which have been used in its ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The BAE Systems’ facilities across the country have been targeted in various protests.