Three teens arrested after diners suffer breathing difficulties and two taken to hospital after gas canister set off in Stafford McDonald's
Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of setting off a gas canister at McDonald's restaurant in Stafford, which left two requiring hospital treatment and a further ten requiring treatment at the scene.
Two people suffered from breathing difficulties and abdominal pain and were taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital following the incident shortly before 8.45pm last night.
It is currently unknown what type of gas was released into the Eccleshall Road restaurant, but it caused respiratory and stomach irritation.
McDonald's were forced to close the restaurant last night for around four and a half hours while half of the dining area was today cordoned off while police investigations took place.
Claire Brown, a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman, said: "Upon arrival, ambulance staff found 12 people outside McDonald's who had exited the restaurant after a canister had been released inside.
"The 12 patients, made up of staff and customers, were suffering varying degrees of respiratory and stomach irritation. Of the 12 patients assessed on scene by ambulance staff, two teenage girls needed further hospital treatment. A 17-year-old girl had severe respiratory irritation whilst an 18-year-old girl had severe abdominal pains. Both were taken by land ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital. The remaining 10 patients were discharged on scene.
"Due to the number of patients affected and the type of incident, it was a protracted case which saw ambulance staff on scene for around four hours."
Police, fire and ambulance crews all attended the scene.
Staffordshire Police confirmed three suspects, two 17-year-old males and an 18-year-old girl all from the Stafford area, have been arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance.
Restaurant manager, Sarah Astle, told the Express & Star: "Some form of canister went off, we're unsure what that was at the moment. A couple of people had a few issues with breathing and then the police were called.
"The fire service went in with apparatus to make sure everything was safe but it was about four and a half hours before the restaurant was allowed to be back open again.
"Police, ambulance and fire service came pretty much straight away but didn't go in the restaurant until about 11.30pm - to ascertain it was safe.
Mrs Astle added that they expected full access to the restaurant's dining area to be opened again this afternoon: "Hopefully it will open later on this afternoon but unfortunately its only the drive through and half of the restaurant at the moment that is accessible for all customers."
The force has obtained CCTV evidence as part of its investigation.
McDonald's has now reopened for business.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident 725 of April 18.
