November 10th, 2025

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Controlled explosion at Peterborough chemicals factory

A controlled explosion has been carried out at Perkins engine factory in Peterborough after “unstable” chemicals were found.

Perkins alerted the authorities upon discovering that some picric acid – which in a dehydrated state is potentially explosive – might have become unstable.

Staff at Perkins, which makes diesel and gas engines for industrial, construction and agricultural machines, were evacuated around 01:30 GMT.

An ordnance team from RAF Wittering carried out the detonation shortly before 08:00 GMT.

Inspector Kieran Mylchreest, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: “The engineering company called us to tell us they’d found this chemical in an unstable state and that they would like some assistance in dealing with it.

“The risk is very, very low to the general public. Those living in neighbouring streets should stay indoors as a precaution.

“We hope to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”

Restrictions on residents living near Perkins have now been lifted and operations at the site cleared to return to normal.

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