A 73-year-old woman has been arrested following an incident in the centre of Bath which saw streets cordoned off after people began feeling unwell, police have said.
Emergency crews in hazmat suits at the scene | Photo © Bath Echo
South Western Ambulance Service was called to Stall Street in the city centre, near the Roman Baths, at around 2.30pm yesterday afternoon, Monday 29th July, and were told a woman who had a plastic bag had approached a number of people who then reported feeling ill.
Police were brought in at 3.08pm, and a cordon was set up around the scene. A large emergency service response saw many surrounding roads blocked by vehicles.
Emergency crews in hazmat treated members of the public at the scene, along with firefighters.
A member of the public was seen to be hosed off by fire crews in a makeshift tarpaulin area.
The Roman Baths remained open throughout the incident, though shops on Stall Street including Primark were evacuated.
Fire crews within the cordon | Photo © Bath Echo
The ambulance service initially informed told police they had taken two people to hospital, but ultimately only one woman needed to be conveyed after experiencing breathing difficulties and itchy eyes.
She was checked over and discharged later in the evening.
The scene was lifted shortly before 8pm after the area had been checked, and the fire service conducted an air quality test. No trace of any chemical or hazardous substance was found.
The cordon at the scene on Stall Street | Photo © Bath Echo
CCTV enquiries were carried out to identify the individual who was in possession of the plastic bag at the time of the incident. A 73-year-old was subsequently arrested on suspicion of administering an unknown noxious substance.
Chief Inspector Scott Hill, of the Bath Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We’d like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while we dealt with an incident in Bath yesterday.
“Public safety is always our top priority and we implemented well-rehearsed plans to ensure this isolated incident was dealt with as swiftly and effectively as possible.
“All emergency services have a duty of care to their staff and so a decision was made to wear protective clothing while there was uncertainty about what we were dealing with.
“Further enquiries will be required to fully understand what caused some people to experience feeling unwell, but to help us progress that work we have made an arrest as we seek to establish whether any offence has been committed.
“We can confirm thorough testing of the surrounding public area was carried out before the cordon was lifted which confirmed there were no traces of any chemical substance.
“We are aware there was speculation on social media yesterday about this and hope confirming this provides reassurance to the public.
“We are not aware of there being any increased risk to the public but officers will be on patrol in the city centre today if anyone wishes to speak with us directly to raise any concerns they may have.”
Avon Fire & Rescue Service told the Bath Echo: “On Monday 29 July at 3.45pm, Avon and Somerset Police requested our assistance at an incident on Stall Street, Bath in which a small number of people reported feeling unwell.
“Firefighters from Bath and Patchway assisted police by carrying out testing for chemical or hazardous substances at the scene. No trace of any chemical or hazardous substance was found.”
Anyone with information that could assist the ongoing investigation is asked to contact Avon & Somerset Police via their online form or by calling 101 and quote reference number 5224197741.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form.
No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.
