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Newcastle Spice deaths: Manslaughter arrest after three people die | Newcastle Spice deaths: Manslaughter arrest after three people die |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Three men died after taking what is believed to be the drug Spice | |
A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the deaths of three people in Newcastle who are thought to have taken the drug Spice. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the deaths of three people in Newcastle who are thought to have taken the drug Spice. |
The deaths occurred within 24 hours on Friday and Saturday and are believed to be linked to a particularly "dangerous batch", the city council said. | The deaths occurred within 24 hours on Friday and Saturday and are believed to be linked to a particularly "dangerous batch", the city council said. |
The three men who died were aged 23, 26 and 34. | The three men who died were aged 23, 26 and 34. |
Nine males aged 14 to 44 and two women, aged 25 and 33, were arrested in Newcastle. | Nine males aged 14 to 44 and two women, aged 25 and 33, were arrested in Newcastle. |
One of the men, a 27-year-old, was held on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to two of the deaths. | One of the men, a 27-year-old, was held on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to two of the deaths. |
The other 10 people were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, although the 14-year-old boy and 25-year-old woman have since been released with no further action to be taken against them. | The other 10 people were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, although the 14-year-old boy and 25-year-old woman have since been released with no further action to be taken against them. |
A 35-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman remain in custody, the remainder of the group arrested have been released while inquiries continue. | A 35-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman remain in custody, the remainder of the group arrested have been released while inquiries continue. |
A quantity of drugs and paraphernalia was also seized. | A quantity of drugs and paraphernalia was also seized. |
Northumbria Police said officers remained concerned for the wellbeing of anyone who had taken or purchased the drug in recent days. | Northumbria Police said officers remained concerned for the wellbeing of anyone who had taken or purchased the drug in recent days. |
Separately, six people were taken to hospital in the Cleveland area after taking what police described as "illicit tablets". | |
The force there initially said 11 people needed treatment over the weekend and believed it was related to a bad batch of Spice. | |
It has since confirmed it is not linking the two incidents and no arrests have been made. | |
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |