An inquest has heard how US-funded research into terrorist explosives on a classified military research centre based at Foulness Island, Shoeburyness, caused the untimely death of a top government scientist.
The death of government scientist Terence Jupp has been shrouded in secrecy since he was rushed to hospital with 80 per cent flash flame burns on 14 August 2002 after chemicals he was combining for testing spontaneously combusted at the Foulness site.
American witnesses involved in the trials at the time have refused to give evidence in open court leaving coroner Dr Peter Dean with only witness statements obtained by Ministry of Defence police.
His case is now the longest-running MoD inquiry into the death of a civilian - eight years on from the original incident.
Southend Coroner’s Court heard in evidence that Foulness Island played host to US/UK-funded experiments into explosive mixtures created using chemicals available “over the counter” that could have potentially been used by “a particular terrorist organisation”.
Evidence revealed that Mr Jupp had been wearing just a flammable dust suit when the accident happened with experts suggesting protective clothing could have saved the father-of-two’s life.
Ministry of Defence police have watched over each day of proceedings at Southend Coroner’s Court due to the nature of much of the evidence contained in the 7,500 page dossier being a threat to national security.
It had been revealed that although some of the world’s top scientist worked at the Newland’s Range on Foulness Island - scientists often used basic tools such as used paint tins to mix substances and a push bike to move across the site.
All reference to substances and measures used in what has been labelled the ‘fatal mix’ that caused Mr Jupp’s death have been coded due to the top secret nature of the MoD’s research work on the island.
Mr Jupp’s family – who knew nothing of his top secret work – have attended each day of the trial that aims to discover the truth into the tragic death of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory employee.
See this week’s Enquirer for a full report on proceedings.