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

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. Relevant authorities have responded and 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.

— WockhardtUK (@WockhardtUk) January 27, 2021

"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."

 

Please avoid the area #Wrexham

⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/X54dpIJqPX — North Wales Police #KeepWalesSafe ? (@NWPolice) January 27, 2021

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

Road closed off and factory sealed off. pic.twitter.com/3hSnnUgS0s

— ian hunter (@ian_hunter9) January 27, 2021

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

We are working with local police and the military to find out more about this incident. Thank you to the security personnel who are on-site to protect lives and ensure the safety of our vaccine supply. This highlights the vital role they play in keeping us all safe. Diolch. https://t.co/ToapAMj62j

— Mark Drakeford (@fmwales) January 27, 2021

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.