Chemical weapon could lie beneath airbase

A POTENTIALLY unstable chemical weapon could be buried beneath an airbase that will shortly become home to over 900 army personnel.

RAF Kinloss in Moray is the focus of an investigation i nt o r a di o a c t ive contamination, but a report emerged yesterday suggesting the site may be contaminated with mustard gas.

Known as sulphur mustard, it is a colourless oily liquid that can cause severe burns and cancer.

A report found by BBC Scotland identified potent i al sulphur mustard contamination in 2004.

RAF Kinloss ceased to be an operational airbase last year. About 930 personnel from 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) are due to move from Cambridge to Kinloss in July.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Our investigations to date suggest there is no indication of significant risk to public health or the environment associated with the past storage or disposal of chemical weapon agents in the UK. Work undertaken indicates the sites are suitable for their current use.”

Thomas Docherty MP, a member of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said “We need an urgent statement from the UK Government that spells out exactly who knew what when, that says what is the actual independent scientific risk, when did they inform the Scottish regulators, when did they inform the local authorities, and when did they inform Scottish ministers?”