Bullring evacuated in alert
Shoppers were evacuated from Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre and five people were taken to hospital today following a chemical alert.
Emergency services were initially called to a row of shops in nearby Moat Lane at 3.45 this morning, where six security staff complained of feeling sick and suffering stinging eyes.
Five people were taken to City Hospital as a result of fumes believed to have come from a can of diesel.
Overnight staff working at the Bullring were evacuated and then the centre opened as normal this morning – only for shoppers to be evacuated at around 9.45am as a precaution.
West Midlands Ambulance Service sent five ambulances and specialist staff from the Hazardous Area Response Team, after the alarm was raised in the early hours.
Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said: "The initial information said that a number of security staff had been affected by fumes.
"The ambulance crews found a total of six security staff who had been affected.
"The six were complaining of watery eyes, feeling nauseous and two of the staff had been sick.
"All were treated at the scene and five were taken to City Hospital."
