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| Police taken to hospital after encounter with unknown substance in raid | Police taken to hospital after encounter with unknown substance in raid |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Eight police officers have been treated in hospital after being exposed to an unknown substance during a drugs raid. | Eight police officers have been treated in hospital after being exposed to an unknown substance during a drugs raid. |
| West Midlands police said the officers experienced sickness and breathing difficulties while supporting colleagues from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, early on Friday. | |
| A police spokesman said early indications suggested the substance, found at a house, was a mixture of petrol and an illegal drug, possibly heroin. | A police spokesman said early indications suggested the substance, found at a house, was a mixture of petrol and an illegal drug, possibly heroin. |
| Three men, aged 21, 27 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs during the operation. | Three men, aged 21, 27 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs during the operation. |
| Officers forced entry to the premises at around midnight and seized a quantity of suspected class A drugs with an approximate street value of about £250,000. | |
| The police spokesman said: "While the arrests were being made, officers were exposed to an unknown substance, which caused ill effects for both the officers and the people arrested, namely sickness and breathing difficulties. | The police spokesman said: "While the arrests were being made, officers were exposed to an unknown substance, which caused ill effects for both the officers and the people arrested, namely sickness and breathing difficulties. |
| "In total 11 people, consisting of eight police officers and three detainees, were taken to Heartlands hospital. | "In total 11 people, consisting of eight police officers and three detainees, were taken to Heartlands hospital. |
| "All were discharged early this morning and the three detainees remain in police custody, where they are being dealt with by Soca officers. | |
| "Inquiries are ongoing to establish exactly what the liquid was, although early indications suggest it may have been petrol mixed with an illegal drug." | "Inquiries are ongoing to establish exactly what the liquid was, although early indications suggest it may have been petrol mixed with an illegal drug." |
| Parts of the area were cordoned off and a number of road restrictions in place while forensic examinations continued. | Parts of the area were cordoned off and a number of road restrictions in place while forensic examinations continued. |
| West Midlands police incident manager Chief Inspector Lee Wharmby said: "Police officers face threats on a daily basis and, on occasions, criminals will use extreme measures to resist arrest. | West Midlands police incident manager Chief Inspector Lee Wharmby said: "Police officers face threats on a daily basis and, on occasions, criminals will use extreme measures to resist arrest. |
| "Events such as this always raise concern in communities, but I want to be clear that this is about drugs alone and not connected to terrorism." | "Events such as this always raise concern in communities, but I want to be clear that this is about drugs alone and not connected to terrorism." |