11/02/2008

Woman Due In Court Over Oil Rig Bomb Hoax

A 23-year-old woman is due to appear in court today, charged in connection with an alleged bomb threat hoax which led to the evacuation of a North Sea oil platform at the weekend.

Around 160 employees were airlifted from the Safe Scandinavia installation, which is attached to the rig in the Britannia field, northeast of Aberdeen, following the security alert.

A major rescue operation was mounted, involving police, coastguard and the RAF, following reports that an explosive device was on board the installation.

The woman, understood to be a British worker on the installation, was arrested following an investigation, which uncovered nothing suspicious.

The woman is due to appear before Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday.

All the workers were later returned to the platform, from neighbouring rigs where they stayed while the investigation was carried out.

Kathy McGill, managing director of oil company Britannia Operator Limited, said: "We are very relieved that this has turned out to be a false alarm, but we obviously had to treat it seriously and act appropriately to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our people."

(KMcA)






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