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Weapon Inspectors enter Depleted Uranium Site

Thunderbirds are Go! | 14.03.2008 11:43

Direct action against DU

Weapon Inspectors enter Depleted Uranium Site

After five years the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has resumed testfiring depleted uranium shells on the Dundrennan test range in south-west Scotland.
The dates for the testing was 10-14 March.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7287009.stm

 http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/172.html

On Thursday afternoon, 13th march, there was a attempt to enter the test range and disrupt (without getting killed) the testing.
At each entry point into the range, red flags were flying indicating that the public were not to enter due to the testfiring, and could possibly be subject to prosecution if stopped.
The range was entered from the Kirkcudbright side, following a footpath. Once inside the range there was no evidence of activity despite the red flags flying.
Either the testing had occured earlier, or was planned for later, or the heavy downpour of rain stopped play.
The weapon inspection was observed by two 'patrol' vans which kept their distance and made no attempt to intervene.
For 90 minutes the range was explored. There was a bombed and burned out tank which was subject to a Sunday Herald article in 2004. Despite MOD promises to get rid of this tank because of radioactive readings, (which they blamed on a radium clock but others suggested DU shells), the tank is still there.
There are several man-made rectangular holes dug into the ground and covered by wooden boards. These were noted during two 2003 visits by weapon inspectors. The holes are used to store DU debris which is then measured to see how long it corrodes.
There were three new constructs, metal observation posts, with the slits facing west towards a field. This is unusual because the MOD claim that they fire DU southwards into the Solway Firth to test trajectory.
There was some debris lying around, possibly from broken up shells, but they looked old. There were several MOD welcome signs, one stated " AVOID PICKING UP ANY DEBRIS AS IT MAY EXPLODE AND KILL YOU".
There was a circular bomb crator about 5-6 feet in diameter. It was filled with rain water and nobody was going to put a hand in to measure depth. The crator wasn't observed in 2003, but noone was expert enough to estimate how old the crator was.
Once the inspection ended, exit was made through the front door, along the road leading out and past the unmanned roadposts. The red flags were still flying.
Despite the red flags everybody seemed to have disappeared. Unlike the 2003 visits which had been more eventful. However, after leaving the range, a car drove up and the driver tried to take photos of the weapon inspectors.
There will be a updated version of this report once photos scanned in.

Thunderbirds are Go!

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  1. DU weapons inspection — chloe bruce
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