Bomb squads called out to 20 schools and unis

BOMB squads were called to more than 20 schools and universities in South Wales in the wake of a decision to take a potentially dangerous chemical off the curriculum.

The Ministry of Defence supervised almost 600 detonations of the potentially explosive chemical in schools across the UK in just three months.

It came after the use 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was removed from the A-level chemistry syllabus leaving schools in dire need of a way to dispose of the chemical.

The controlled explosions were carried out between October 21 and December 21, 2016 after schools were advised to check the chemical by a government science service.

Schools visited by the bomb squad in Cardiff included Eastern High School and Radyr Comprehensive.

The figures – which cover the UK – were released under the Freedom of Information Act.

2,4-DNPH is known to pose a risk of explosion by shock, friction or fire and is usually kept inside a larger container holding water.

After consulting with government science advisors, 67 schools in Wales were told that Army bomb squads would be needed to dispose of the chemical.

Speaking to the BBC, Dr David Kinnison, a chemical safety advisor, said: “As a safety professional, I would always err on the side of caution,” he said.

“Yes, there could have been possible other ways of dealing with this, however, the schools were presented with this advice. Cardiff and Vale College Cardiff Metropolitan University

Eastern High School, Cardiff

Kings Monkton School, Cardiff

Michaelston College, Cardiff

Radyr Comprehensive, Cardiff St David’s College, Cardiff Bedwas High School, Caerphilly

Barry Comprehensive School

Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, Barry

Heolddu Comprehensive School, Mountain Road,

“The positive is that a material which potentially could be unsafe was made safe, the bomb disposal squads have gained some valuable experience,” Bargoed

St Cenydd Comp School, Caerphilly Bridgend College Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, near Bridgend

Cyfarthfa High School, Merthyr Tydfil

Pen Y Dre School, Merthyr Tydfil Afon Taf School, Merthyr Hawthorn High School, Pontypridd Pontypridd School Treorchy Comprehensive School

Lewis Girls Comprehensive School, Ystrad Mynach and

Rhymney Comprehensive School

The MoD said it cost just under £90,000 for the tasks to be carried out in England. It is still calculating the cost for tasks carried out elsewhere in the UK.