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| Bullring stays shut in fume alert | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre remains shut to bank holiday weekend shoppers after a chemical incident on Thursday affected more than 30 people. | Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre remains shut to bank holiday weekend shoppers after a chemical incident on Thursday affected more than 30 people. |
| The centre has been shut for two days, but managers say they are working to try to reopen later on Saturday. | The centre has been shut for two days, but managers say they are working to try to reopen later on Saturday. |
| It was evacuated after shoppers and staff reported symptoms including minor respiratory problems. | It was evacuated after shoppers and staff reported symptoms including minor respiratory problems. |
| Bullring managers said they were "continuing to work with the police to investigate the incident". | Bullring managers said they were "continuing to work with the police to investigate the incident". |
| Tim Walley, Bullring general manager, said: "The investigation has been ongoing throughout the night and we hope to have the issue resolved soon. | Tim Walley, Bullring general manager, said: "The investigation has been ongoing throughout the night and we hope to have the issue resolved soon. |
| "We are working towards Bullring reopening today, but our priority continues to be staff and visitors to Bullring. | "We are working towards Bullring reopening today, but our priority continues to be staff and visitors to Bullring. |
| "The centre will open when all internal checks have been completed and we are assured the centre is in a position to welcome back staff and visitors. " | "The centre will open when all internal checks have been completed and we are assured the centre is in a position to welcome back staff and visitors. " |
| John Lamb from Birmingham's Chamber of Commerce, said the closure could lead to large financial losses for the shopping centre. | |
| "Clearly, it will cost tens of thousands of pounds in lost trade if it remains closed," he said. | |
| He explained that the centre was always busy on Saturdays and Sundays and would be expecting large numbers if it was open on a bank holiday Monday. | |
| "It is an important retail attraction for Birmingham but I don't think it will put people off coming to the city for shopping if it is closed, there are plenty of other places," he added. | |
| Police said any contamination remained "unexplained" and it was not known if it was from an accident or malicious act. | |
| West Midlands Police said the cause was a suspected petro-chemical-based contamination, possibly in the centre's ventilation or air conditioning systems. | West Midlands Police said the cause was a suspected petro-chemical-based contamination, possibly in the centre's ventilation or air conditioning systems. |
| Staff 'told nothing' about Bullring closure | Staff 'told nothing' about Bullring closure |
| The centre reopened briefly on Friday, but was evacuated again after some members of staff staff reported shortness of breath and nausea. | |
| Six security workers were treated for the effects of fumes shortly before 0400 BST on Thursday. Later, more staff complained of symptoms such as dizziness and nausea, and the centre was closed. | Six security workers were treated for the effects of fumes shortly before 0400 BST on Thursday. Later, more staff complained of symptoms such as dizziness and nausea, and the centre was closed. |
| A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said that although the Bullring was closed, all other shops, including the nearby markets, were open. | A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said that although the Bullring was closed, all other shops, including the nearby markets, were open. |