4 officers taken to hospital after NW ‘chemical suicide’
The officers were amongst 12 who co-ordinated a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response to the incident, which centred on a vehicle.
The exact location of the incident was not revealed although it occurred somewhere across the wider Londonderry, Strabane, Limavady and Magherafelt policing area.
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Hide AdThere were three other such incidents across Northern Ireland over 2011 and 2012.
Chemical suicide - also known as ‘detergent suicide’ - involves mixing of common household chemicals into a lethally intoxicating cloud of vapour.
According to the PSNI one person died in the G District incident.
“Police response was in respect of incident and identification of deceased, co-ordination of CBRN multi-agency response involving Fire Ambulance, Public Health, recovery of body on behalf of coroner, search of vehicle regarding other chemicals,” the PSNI revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request.
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Hide AdFour police officers - those first on the scene - were taken to hospital as a precaution.
Scenes involving a contaminated fatalities must be dealt with in accordance with Home Office guidance, which was published in 2009.