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| Warning after three deaths in Plymouth linked to blue pills | Warning after three deaths in Plymouth linked to blue pills |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Authorities said three deaths in Plymouth over the weekend have been linked to a batch of blue pills | |
| A health warning has been issued urging people to avoid a batch of blue tablets following three deaths in Plymouth. | A health warning has been issued urging people to avoid a batch of blue tablets following three deaths in Plymouth. |
| Devon and Cornwall Police said two men aged in their 20s and 30s were pronounced dead at an address in Welbeck Avenue on Saturday and a third man, aged in his 30s, was found dead in a property on North Road East the following day. | Devon and Cornwall Police said two men aged in their 20s and 30s were pronounced dead at an address in Welbeck Avenue on Saturday and a third man, aged in his 30s, was found dead in a property on North Road East the following day. |
| Det Insp Michelle Dunn said all three deaths were believed to be drugs-related and were being treated as linked and unexplained. | Det Insp Michelle Dunn said all three deaths were believed to be drugs-related and were being treated as linked and unexplained. |
| Plymouth City Council has issued a public health warning following the deaths, saying the incidents are believed to be linked to blue pills being sold illegally as Valium, in blister packs with Arabic writing on them. | Plymouth City Council has issued a public health warning following the deaths, saying the incidents are believed to be linked to blue pills being sold illegally as Valium, in blister packs with Arabic writing on them. |
| 'Very concerned' | 'Very concerned' |
| Prof Steve Maddern, the council's director of public health, said the tablets were being tested to discover if they are toxic. | Prof Steve Maddern, the council's director of public health, said the tablets were being tested to discover if they are toxic. |
| He said the contents of the drugs could not be known until the tests were done, but the authorities wanted people to be aware of issues potentially linked to them. | He said the contents of the drugs could not be known until the tests were done, but the authorities wanted people to be aware of issues potentially linked to them. |
| "Any loss of a life is a tragedy, and we want to prevent it happening to anyone else," Prof Maddern added. | "Any loss of a life is a tragedy, and we want to prevent it happening to anyone else," Prof Maddern added. |
| "We're very concerned about these tablets... they might look like Valium, but they could be contaminated with another substance and therefore more toxic. | "We're very concerned about these tablets... they might look like Valium, but they could be contaminated with another substance and therefore more toxic. |
| "If you or someone you know has these tablets, do not take them." | "If you or someone you know has these tablets, do not take them." |
| If someone has taken drugs and becomes unwell, the council's advice is to call 999 straight away or take them to Derriford Hospital's Emergency Department. | If someone has taken drugs and becomes unwell, the council's advice is to call 999 straight away or take them to Derriford Hospital's Emergency Department. |
| Plymouth City Council said the pills are being sold as Valium and tests are ongoing | |
| Police have appealed for any witnesses to speak with them as officers investigate the deaths. | Police have appealed for any witnesses to speak with them as officers investigate the deaths. |
| Det Insp Dunn said: "Our inquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are working closely with our partner agencies to do this. | Det Insp Dunn said: "Our inquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are working closely with our partner agencies to do this. |
| "If anyone has any information which they feel may assist our investigation, please report it to us." | "If anyone has any information which they feel may assist our investigation, please report it to us." |
| Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |