Probe into plant security breach

A night view of the huge complex in central Scotland

An inquiry has been launched into a breach of security at the Grangemouth petrochemicals plant, it has emerged.

BP has confirmed that the incident occurred at the complex near Falkirk three weeks ago.

A spokesman for the company said security precautions were reviewed on a continual basis.

Local MP Michael Connarty said he had been told that two concrete bollards had been dug up, perimeter wire cut and a large lorry driven onto the site.

About 2,000 people are employed at the sprawling site in central Scotland which processes a range of hazardous materials, including toxic and explosive chemicals.

Details of the security breach at the plant have just emerged.

Quite frankly, if you wanted to hit a target that supplied its own combustible material, then you would pick the gas plant at Grangemouth Michael Connarty Falkirk East MP

Mr Connarty said Grangemouth had been identified by UK security organisations as a potential target for terrorists.

"The fact that you can remove the fence and drive in and steal material means you could drive in and put in anything you like," he said.

In the ensuing "panic" following the discovery of the breach, an unidentified box was discovered "in a dangerous place" and had to be examined on the site.

He said: "It turned out to be a box of tools left on the site by a contractor but you could have driven in a lorry full of fertiliser - a bomb - and left it just as easily.

"Quite frankly, if you wanted to hit a target that supplied its own combustible material, then you would pick the gas plant at Grangemouth."

The BP spokesman said security measures had been tightened as a result of the latest incident.