Police have confirmed no noxious substance was detected at a house in south Belfast following an incident in which a number of people were taken to hospital.<\/p>\n
An alarm was raised at around 5.30pm on Tuesday when emergency services attended a property in Damascus Street following reports of a number of people feeling unwell.<\/p>\n
Four people and a number of police officers were taken to hospital when the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) suspected that they had come into contact \u201cwith a possibly noxious substance in the property\u201d.<\/p>\n
Police have now confirmed that \u201cno noxious substance was detected\u201d following investigations.<\/p>\n
The people who were taken to hospital have been discharged.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued around 9.30pm on Tuesday, police said specialist colleagues were conducting checks and there was no wider risk to the public at that time.<\/p>\n
Superintendent Allister Hagan said the incident had been contained.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur priority is always the safety of the public and our officers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile a number of people were taken to hospital as a precaution, I want to reassure the community that this incident is contained and there is no risk to the wider public.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to work with partner agencies to confirm the circumstances and will provide updates as appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it had taken four patients to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.<\/p>\n
A NIAS statement said: \u201cThe Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a number of 999 calls shortly after 17.00 on Tuesday September 30 following reports of an incident in the Damascus Street area.<\/p>\n
\u201cNIAS despatched four emergency crews to the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing assessment and initial treatment at the scene, four patients were taken to Royal Victoria Hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
At 9.30pm, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said their crews had left the scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrews from Central, Cadogan, Lisburn and Dromore initially attended supported by five officers,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrews utilised detection and monitoring equipment to assist in resolving the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrews have now left the scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
During their investigations police removed a quantity of suspected drugs from the property.<\/p>\n
Further inquiries are ongoing.<\/p>\n
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