Porton Down and poisoning in the British suburbs: is there a connection?
The incidents of poisoning in Salisbury and Amesbury attracted attention to Porton Down, a mysterious laboratory that suddenly became the epicenter of events.
A government facility in Porton Down has previously been involved in researching deadly secret samples weapons. Today, it is this laboratory that is studying chemicals that allegedly caused poisoning. The British Metropolitan Police Service confirmed that the samples of the substances were delivered precisely to Porton Down, and it was in this laboratory that it was concluded that “two people were exposed to the“ Novice ”nerve agent.
Usually, Porton Down is spoken in the singular as a single object, but in fact a group of different organizations is located in this area near the town of Porton. The two largest of them are Public Health and the military science and technology laboratory, which is subordinate to the Department of Defense of the United Kingdom. But in the past it was all one laboratory, the activity of which still remains a mystery.
Porton Down would definitely take part in the investigation of any incident involving the use of nerve agents in the UK, since he has a lot of experience in this. But what is interesting: Salisbury, Amesbury and the laboratory are very close, literally a few kilometers from each other.
This fact can not but raise questions. Of course, so far there is no evidence that the poisoning occurred near Porton Down is not accidental, but, as the British themselves put it, “highly likes”.
The laboratory has always been surrounded by rumors and speculation. For example, the fact that one of the activities of Porton Down is the cultivation of hemp. This is done, according to one version, to create drugs, but in fact, no one knows.
From what is known reliably: during World War II, the laboratory developed chemical and biological weapons, for example, using botulinum toxin, an organic poison that causes botulism. The poison affects the nervous system, leading to irreversible muscle paralysis and acute respiratory failure.
After the war, Porton Down began to study German developments in the field of toxic substances. In 1952, it was there that the VX gas (vi-gas) was developed, the most toxic ever created artificially.
The British edition of The Independent writes:
“The government has always concealed what Porton Down is actually doing, so it’s difficult for him to refute the laboratory’s accusations of destructive activities and involvement in poisoning. But there is no evidence that something was done in Porton Down except for analyzing the composition of the poisonous substance. ”
It sounds very convincing if it were not for one “but”: the lack of evidence did not prevent the British government from accusing Moscow of creating a portion of Novice and its use.
It is also surprising that representatives of the laboratory and the British Foreign Office make various statements. It was the Foreign Ministry that said, in the opinion of scientists, the “Novice” was made in Russia. However, the scientists themselves very clearly explained that it is almost always possible to determine the type of toxic agent, but almost never where it was obtained and who used it. What is this: a misunderstanding between politicians, an attempt by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to divert attention from the laboratory or the fright of Porton Down?
- Victor Zaretsky
- bt.com
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