Brazil sinks aircraft carrier in Atlantic despite presence of asbestos and toxic materials

Environmental activists had sought to halt the planned scuttling of the warship, warning that it could pollute the marine food chain

Brazil has sunk a decommissioned aircraft carrier despite environmental groups claiming the former French ship was packed with toxic materials.

The planned and controlled sinking occurred late in the afternoon" on Friday, 350km off the Brazilian coast in the Atlantic Ocean, in an area with an approximate depth of 5,000 meters (16,000 feet), the navy said in a statement.