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4 days ago
(no author listed)
An uninhabited Scottish island where government scientists once conducted experiments with Anthrax has been hit by a fire.
People who saw the fire on Gruinard Island from the mainland described the scene as "apocalyptic".
They said the uninhabited island off Scotland's north-west coast was ablaze from "one end to the other" on Saturday evening.
The island was used for germ warfare experiments during World War Two.
It was declared free of Anthrax by the Ministry of Defence in April 1990.
... The experiment was deemed a success and the scientists returned to Porton Down - but the anthrax remained.
In an attempt to rid the island of anthrax spores, Porton Down instructed the heather be set on fire.
It remained off limits and it was not until 24 years after the experiment that the warning signs even mentioned Anthrax.
Porton Down experts checked the soil but the anthrax spores were "surprisingly resistant to degradation".
In 1986, Gruinard was again a hive of activity as teams of scientists, vaccinated against anthrax and dressed in protective clothing, prepared to return the island to its natural state.
They sprayed the soil with seawater and formaldehyde and it was again tested at Porton Down.
Finally, on 24 April 1990, the MoD declared Gruinard anthrax free.
(no author listed)
An uninhabited Scottish island where government scientists once conducted experiments with Anthrax has been hit by a fire.
People who saw the fire on Gruinard Island from the mainland described the scene as "apocalyptic".
They said the uninhabited island off Scotland's north-west coast was ablaze from "one end to the other" on Saturday evening.
The island was used for germ warfare experiments during World War Two.
It was declared free of Anthrax by the Ministry of Defence in April 1990.
... The experiment was deemed a success and the scientists returned to Porton Down - but the anthrax remained.
In an attempt to rid the island of anthrax spores, Porton Down instructed the heather be set on fire.
It remained off limits and it was not until 24 years after the experiment that the warning signs even mentioned Anthrax.
Porton Down experts checked the soil but the anthrax spores were "surprisingly resistant to degradation".
In 1986, Gruinard was again a hive of activity as teams of scientists, vaccinated against anthrax and dressed in protective clothing, prepared to return the island to its natural state.
They sprayed the soil with seawater and formaldehyde and it was again tested at Porton Down.
Finally, on 24 April 1990, the MoD declared Gruinard anthrax free.
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