UK: Trawler crew exposed to deadly plague test

FOR more than half a century it has remained one of the most closely guarded secrets of the cold war.
In a series of biological weapons tests off the Isle of Lewis, monkeys and guinea pigs were suspended from cages on pontoon bridges and exposed to clouds of deadly bubonic plague.
Now, newly declassified files have revealed for the first time the recklessness of Operation Cauldron, where lives were put at risk and government officials embarked on a cover-up to prevent the tests being exposed.
The documents reveal that the fishing boat Carella strayed into the test zone and the crew were put at risk from the tests.
However, ministers decided not to warn the crew and failed to prevent them returning to port, potentially putting the population of Britain in danger from the deadly pathogen.
Instead, they ordered two ships, including a destroyer, to trail the trawler on its three-week fishing trip to Iceland and to intercept any distress calls should a crew member fall sick.
One memo makes it clear that the priority was to cover up the incident rather than protect the lives of those on board. “Requirements gravely political are more important than what may seem best from a purely medical point of view for individuals,” read the instructions to the captain of the destroyer.