UK troops 'exposed to deadly asbestos'

Marines sue MoD over war games at Soviet-era base

- Luke Whelan

MORE than 100 Royal Marines and dozens of ex-Commandos are suing the Ministry of Defence claiming they were exposed to asbestos during two major military exercises.

They were operating on an abandoned Soviet base in modern Latvia called Skrunda-1.

Months after the second exercise the MOD's own investigation confirmed the presence of asbestos.

Edward Hill, one of the former soldiers, filed for damages in September 2019, believing his unit was exposed to the most hazardous type of asbestos during Exercise Baltic Protector 2019 (BP19).

He and others have handed details of BP19, which took place five months earlier, to the Daily Express. Serving Marines have also spoken anonymously about Exercise Sabre Strike 2018 (SS18), during which they were also allegedly exposed.

Dust