British man arrested after suspicious package sent to AstraZeneca plant

British police arrest a man after a suspect package was sent to a COVID-19 vaccination production site in Wales, leading to the deployment of a bomb disposal team.

Production was halted and staff were evacuated from the Wockhardt site in Wrexham, north Wales, following the discovery on Wednesday.

Kent Police in southeast England say they have detained a 53-year-old local man on suspicion of sending the package.

The package was made safe and employees were allowed back into the building.

“This temporary suspension of manufacturing has in no way affected our production schedule and we are grateful to the authorities and experts for their swift response and resolution of the incident,” a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The Wockhardt plant employs around 400 people. The defense ministry said an explosive disposal unit was called out just after 1130 GMT on Wednesday to assist at the scene.

Wockhardt provides the final stage of services in preparing the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the British drugs group AstraZeneca and Oxford University.