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27th Jan 2021

Police respond to ‘ongoing incident’ at Covid vaccine factory in Wrexham

Wil Jones

A “suspicious package” has been received at the plant

A Wrexham factory where coronavirus vaccines are produced has been evacuated after receiving a “suspicious package”.

People are being told to avoid the area around the factory, and nearby roads have been closed.

North Wales Police have said they are currently at the industrial estate where the plant is based, dealing with the “ongoing incident”.

The factory in Wrexham is responsible for the “fill and finish” stage of producing doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Wockhardt UK, the pharmaceutical company who operate the factory, have released a statement, confirming they have “partially evacuated the site pending a full investigation”.

“Wockhardt UK in Wrexham this morning received a suspicious package to site.

“All relevant authorities were immediately notified and engaged.

“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.”

 

 

Images on social media show police at the plant, and ITV News reports eyewitnesses seeing an army bomb disposal truck at the site.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford tweeted that he was “working with local police and the military to find out more about this incident”.

So far 3.9 million people in the UK have received a Covid-19 vaccination. 82-year-old Brian Pinkerwas the first person to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, on 4th January 2021.