A 29-year-old man has been killed and a 26-year-old man is in a serious condition after an explosion at a military hardware factory near Salisbury, police have said.

Emergency services from across Wiltshire were called to the incident at the Chemring Countermeasures site north of the city shortly before 5pm on Friday. Police have not yet named the two men.

“We can confirm that the man who sadly died following an explosion at a factory near Salisbury last night is a 29-year-old man from Southampton,” the force said. “Six fire crews were in attendance, with two appliances from Salisbury, as well as appliances from Andover, Fordingbridge, Pewsey and Cranborne, supported by an incident command vehicle from Devizes.

“One man was pronounced deceased at the scene. His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist trained family liaison officers. Formal identification, however, has not yet taken place. Our thoughts remain with the man’s family, friends and colleagues at this extremely sad time and we would ask that you respect their privacy.”

The second man, from Pewsey, was taken to Salisbury district hospital, where he remained in a serious but stable condition, police said.



The firm produces hardware designed to help protect military ships and aircraft from incoming fire.

Wiltshire police said no other casualties were expected. “The incident has been contained and there is no risk to people in the local area,” they said. A joint investigation would be carried out by the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

Salisbury, about four miles from the site, is still dealing with the aftermath of a chemical weapons attack that the UK has blamed on Russia. A Russian former double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia were left fighting for their lives after being exposed to the nerve agent novichok in March. They later recovered.

Three months later, Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, who are thought to have handled a bottle containing the same substance, were also exposed. Sturgess died and Rowley was left seriously ill. There has been no suggestion that the explosion is linked to those incidents.

The Chemring Group’s business director, Andy Hogben, said the incident “occurred in a flare manufacturing building”, adding that the person in hospital was an employee. “The site was immediately evacuated and the incident brought under control,” Hogben said. “The emergency services are in attendance. Chemring has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident. The thoughts and support of Chemring Group are with the families at this time.”