This is intriguing to say the least:
A Utah military base that carries out tests to protect troops against biological attacks was locked down Wednesday to resolve a “serious concern,” officials said.
Base commander Col. William E. King said no one was in danger and the gates will reopen as quickly as it’s feasible.
His statement did not provide any details of the problem.
Base spokeswoman Bonnie Robinson told the The Associated Press early Thursday that officials hope to have the problem resolved shortly.
“We are working as quickly and as thoroughly as possible to resolve a serious concern within the Test Area,” King said.
“Measures like these (lock down of our gates) are not taken lightly. No one is in immediate danger but these steps are required,” he said.
I hope to update as soon as more is known.
UPDATE: Turned out to be a mis-labeled vial of nerve agent:
Officials say a mislabeled vial of VX nerve agent is responsible for a lockdown overnight at a Utah military base that carries out tests to protect troops against biological attacks.
Officials at Dugway Proving Ground say a inventory found there was a misplaced vial of less than 1 ml (less than one teaspoon) of VX “nerve agent.” U.S. Army Col. William King at a news conference Thursday said it was originally thought the vial was missing which prompted him to lock the gates of the base. He says vial was accounted for at about 3 a.m. Thursday.
“Early this morning we determined that in fact we had not lost an accountability agent it was just misplaced into a different container that was improperly marked,” said King.
King said officials are still investigating and are calling it a “serious mishandling” of the agents.
I’m not sure this makes me feel any better.
