MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Over 60 people have been evacuated and two police officers have been sent to hospital over concerns about a possible chemical leak near Oxford University, The Telegraph reported.
The incident took place at 05:16 GMT when police conducted a routine arrest of a 34-year-old man suspected of harassment.
"We were made aware by the occupants of a potential chemical hazard and precautions were taken as a result … The property was evacuated but at this time we have no reports of any members of the public being injured," a Thames Valley Police representative said, as quoted by the newspaper.
Police, fire and ambulance in north oxford following "chemical incident" at flat pic.twitter.com/0ZW2XnHO1N
— Jeremy Stern BBC (@Jeremy_Stern) 9 ноября 2017 г.
Dozens of local residents have been urged to leave their homes. Police have also cordoned off the area after emergency services had arrived at the site.
UPDATE: 7 officers have been taken to hospital after a 'potential chemical hazard' at a block of flats in Oxford's Elizabeth Jennings Way pic.twitter.com/4zQLloYiQm
— JACKfm Oxfordshire (@JACKfmOxford) 9 ноября 2017 г.
While the type of the substance is unknown, the incident is not being treated as terror-related.