Teenage girl arrested after ‘release of a gas from an aerosol can’ at Wythenshawe school
- Emergency services attended the school, including a specialist hazardous response team
- Major incident was declared by North West ambulance service
A 13-year old girl was arrested and two pupils taken to hospital following a “gas release from an aerosol can” at St Paul’s RC High School in Wythenshawe
Following the incident emergency services attended the school, including a specialist hazardous response team and advanced paramedics.
Firefighters used specialist breathing equipment and gas detectors to assess the scene
Road closures were also put in place around the school as a safety measure
Moe than 100 potential patients were accessed by paramedics following the incident and two pupils were taken to hospital with minor breathing difficulties.
A major incident was declared by North West ambulance service due to the “number of potential casualties and the resources needed at the scene”, but this was stood down just three hours later
The 13 year old girl is being held on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.
#UPDATE | Following an incident earlier today involving the release of gas from an aerosol can at a school on Firbank Road, Manchester we can confirm a 13y/o girl has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a section 5 offensive weapon.
She currently remains in custody. pic.twitter.com/TMwQ8CS3td
— GMP Wythenshawe (@GMPWythenshawe) February 16, 2022
In a statement the school said: “Earlier this afternoon the school was evacuated as a precaution due to the suspected discharge of an aerosol in one area of the school.”
“The emergency services were called by the school to support the efforts being made to ensure the wellbeing of our pupils.
“All pupils have been accounted for and responded to the situation in a very mature way.”
A statement by the North West Ambulence service said:
“At 12.16pm the service was called to an incident involving a release of gas at St Paul’s RC High School, Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester.
“Due to the number of potential casualties and the resources needed at the scene, the trust declared a major incident.
“We sent 21 resources including emergency ambulances, our Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart), advanced paramedics, Merit doctors and volunteer services who between them assessed more than 100 potential patients.
“Of those, two were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital with breathing difficulties – none of the conditions presented to us were life-threatening.”