Three bailed following gas attack

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A 12-year-old boy and two parents who were arrested after a gas attack at a Kent school have been bailed by police.

Twenty-one pupils were taken to hospital after the incident at Christ Church School, Ashford, on Thursday, and more were assessed at the scene.

The boy, arrested on suspicion of possessing a prohibited weapon and discharging a noxious substance, was bailed on Thursday night.

Two parents were held on suspicion of assaulting police outside the school,

Both men, aged 32 and 37, were released pending further inquiries, police said.

'Illegal substance'

Kent Police have said the gas released in the stairwell of a classroom block was thought to be pepper spray.

Ch Insp Martin Bradley said it was an illegal substance which cannot be bought in shops.

Pupils who were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, had symptoms including sore eyes, coughing and vomiting.

The school building had to be ventilated by firefighters using breathing apparatus.

The school was evacuated and fire crews went into the building

Head teacher Catherine Barber has said the school acted swiftly and defended claims that some parents had complained it had not informed them of the incident quickly enough.

David Adams, a spokesman for Kent County Council said some messages "managed to get around the community which were not true", and which led to frustration among parents.

After the incidents, he apologised to parents and said that communication needed to be improved.

At a surgery, parents were being offered the chance to take part in one-to-one interviews and voice their concerns with staff.

Kent County Council said lessons continued at the school on Thursday afternoon, and it was open as usual on Friday.