Two police officers rushed to hospital after exposure to 'noxious' gas

Two police officers rushed to hospital after being exposed to a ‘noxious’ gas while on 999 call in Belfast, sparking investigation by cops

•  Two officers fell unwell and two others ‘displayed symptoms’ after exposure
•  Initial reports received of a gas leak at a residential building in east Belfast
•  Investigation has now established that a ‘noxious substance’ was released

Two police officers were rushed to hospital after they were exposed to a ‘noxious substance’ while responding to a 999 call in east Belfast. 

Police were called to Ravenhill Reach Court on Friday evening after reports of a suspected gas leak in a communal area of the building.

Residents were evacuated, with some then ‘displaying symptoms’ of exposure to a noxious substance.

Two police officers fell unwell, while two others were affected but did not require hospital treatment. 

In a statement released on Saturday, Inspector Dawson of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: ‘Officers were in a building in the Ravenhill Reach Court area responding to an unrelated report, when a suspected gas leak was detected in a communal area around 9.15pm.

Two police officers were rushed to hospital after being exposed to a ‘noxious substance’ while attending an emergency call at Ravenhill Reach Court in east Belfast on Friday evening

‘The building was evacuated and a nearby community centre was opened for residents while colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service attended the scene.

READ MORE: Police probe THIRD ‘noxious substance’ death in Middlesborough: Officers link deaths of two women, 35 and 38, with discovery of 41-year-old man’s body two months ago

‘It has since been established that this was not a gas leak and at this time, we believe that some kind of noxious substance was released inside the building.

‘Residents were able to return to their homes around 11.40pm and enquiries are ongoing to establish the source of the substance.

‘Two other police officers were also affected, but did not require hospital treatment. A number of residents were also displaying symptoms.

‘I would commend the professionalism of the officers who were in attendance. Despite suffering from the effects of the substance, they ensured that residents were evacuated to safety.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1423 of 22/9/23, or submit a report at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport.

Individuals can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/

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