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Arrests after pupils are gassed | |
(30 minutes later) | |
A 12-year-old boy has been arrested after a substance was released in a school, prompting an evacuation. | A 12-year-old boy has been arrested after a substance was released in a school, prompting an evacuation. |
Police said a pepper spray aerosol was set off in the rear stairwell of a classroom block at Christ Church High School, Ashford. | Police said a pepper spray aerosol was set off in the rear stairwell of a classroom block at Christ Church High School, Ashford. |
Twenty one pupils were taken to hospital with symptoms including sore eyes, coughing and vomiting. Others were checked by medics at the scene. | Twenty one pupils were taken to hospital with symptoms including sore eyes, coughing and vomiting. Others were checked by medics at the scene. |
Two parents were later arrested on suspicion of assaulting police. | Two parents were later arrested on suspicion of assaulting police. |
Police, fire and ambulance teams attended the scene in the Kingsnorth area at about 1220 GMT, and firefighters using breathing apparatus ventilated the building. | Police, fire and ambulance teams attended the scene in the Kingsnorth area at about 1220 GMT, and firefighters using breathing apparatus ventilated the building. |
Clearly tensions ran quite high Ch Insp Martin Bradley | Clearly tensions ran quite high Ch Insp Martin Bradley |
Ch Insp Martin Bradley said the gas used was an illegal substance which cannot be bought in shops. | Ch Insp Martin Bradley said the gas used was an illegal substance which cannot be bought in shops. |
He said: "It's not clear at this stage whether the canister was actually pointed at individuals in the corridor. | He said: "It's not clear at this stage whether the canister was actually pointed at individuals in the corridor. |
"Clearly a lot of gas has affected some of the pupils." | "Clearly a lot of gas has affected some of the pupils." |
He said two adult males were also arrested for causing a disturbance outside the school, and that police used parva spray on them, an entirely different substance from the one used inside the school. | He said two adult males were also arrested for causing a disturbance outside the school, and that police used parva spray on them, an entirely different substance from the one used inside the school. |
'People panicking' | 'People panicking' |
Ch Insp Bradley said: "Clearly the parents were concerned about their children and clearly tensions ran quite high. | Ch Insp Bradley said: "Clearly the parents were concerned about their children and clearly tensions ran quite high. |
"Two parents were arrested as a result of that tension." | "Two parents were arrested as a result of that tension." |
The two local men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police. | The two local men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police. |
Some of my friends were coughing and some fainted Georgina Fletcher | |
Head teacher Catherine Barber said the school acted swiftly and defended claims that some parents had complained the school had not informed them of the incident quickly enough. | Head teacher Catherine Barber said the school acted swiftly and defended claims that some parents had complained the school had not informed them of the incident quickly enough. |
She added: "It's disappointing that one individual has had a negative impact on the smooth running of the school and interfered in the lessons of the majority of students." | She added: "It's disappointing that one individual has had a negative impact on the smooth running of the school and interfered in the lessons of the majority of students." |
Pupil Georgina Fletcher, 11, who was picked up by her mother at the school gates, said: "I was in a humanities lesson when we all started to smell something funny. | Pupil Georgina Fletcher, 11, who was picked up by her mother at the school gates, said: "I was in a humanities lesson when we all started to smell something funny. |
"We didn't know what it was and a lot of us started coughing. | "We didn't know what it was and a lot of us started coughing. |
"Then a teacher came in and we were all told to go down to the school medical room. | "Then a teacher came in and we were all told to go down to the school medical room. |
"Lots of people were panicking, some of my friends were coughing and some fainted." | "Lots of people were panicking, some of my friends were coughing and some fainted." |
Kent County Council said lessons had continued on Thursday afternoon, and the school would be open as usual on Friday. . | Kent County Council said lessons had continued on Thursday afternoon, and the school would be open as usual on Friday. . |
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