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| 'Mortal Kombat' drug link probed after teenager dies in Glasgow | 'Mortal Kombat' drug link probed after teenager dies in Glasgow |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A drugs warning has been issued after a 17-year-old schoolgirl collapsed at a Glasgow nightclub and later died. | A drugs warning has been issued after a 17-year-old schoolgirl collapsed at a Glasgow nightclub and later died. |
| Regane MacColl, from Duntocher, West Dunbartonshire, became ill at The Arches club on Saturday night. | Regane MacColl, from Duntocher, West Dunbartonshire, became ill at The Arches club on Saturday night. |
| She died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the early hours of Sunday. | She died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the early hours of Sunday. |
| Four other people also became ill in separate incidents in Glasgow and Ayrshire. Police said a red "Mortal Kombat" tablet with a dragon stamp on it could be the common link. | Four other people also became ill in separate incidents in Glasgow and Ayrshire. Police said a red "Mortal Kombat" tablet with a dragon stamp on it could be the common link. |
| A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish exactly how Ms MacColl died. | A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish exactly how Ms MacColl died. |
| 'Real tragedy' | 'Real tragedy' |
| Linda Booth, head teacher at St Peter the Apostle High School in Clydebank, where Ms MacColl was a sixth-year pupil, said the teenager's death was "a tragedy". | Linda Booth, head teacher at St Peter the Apostle High School in Clydebank, where Ms MacColl was a sixth-year pupil, said the teenager's death was "a tragedy". |
| "Our whole school community feels a deep sense of grief and our thoughts and prayers are with Regane's family and friends at this devastating time," she said. | "Our whole school community feels a deep sense of grief and our thoughts and prayers are with Regane's family and friends at this devastating time," she said. |
| "Regane was a popular, hardworking and enthusiastic pupil and staff always found her to be very pleasant and well mannered. | "Regane was a popular, hardworking and enthusiastic pupil and staff always found her to be very pleasant and well mannered. |
| "This is a real tragedy for a girl who worked so hard and I'm sure she would have gone on to achieve so much in her life. | "This is a real tragedy for a girl who worked so hard and I'm sure she would have gone on to achieve so much in her life. |
| "We are doing everything that we can to support all of our young people and staff at this sad time." | "We are doing everything that we can to support all of our young people and staff at this sad time." |
| Following reports of Ms MacColl's death, The Arches nightclub said it was assisting police with their inquiries. | Following reports of Ms MacColl's death, The Arches nightclub said it was assisting police with their inquiries. |
| 'Family condolences' | 'Family condolences' |
| In a statement, the venue said: "The Arches are deeply saddened by events that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning. | |
| "First and foremost our sincere condolences go to the young woman's family. | "First and foremost our sincere condolences go to the young woman's family. |
| "We are working closely with Police Scotland to assist them in any way we can with their inquiries into the circumstances of this tragic incident." | "We are working closely with Police Scotland to assist them in any way we can with their inquiries into the circumstances of this tragic incident." |
| In other suspected drug-taking incidents, a 19-year-old woman was admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary but was later discharged. | |
| Two 18-year-old men and another, aged 27, were admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock. | |
| One of the teenagers was later transferred to Hairmyres Hospital where he is in a serious but stable condition. | |
| The other two men are still at Crosshouse Hospital. | |
| Initial investigations have suggested that a red Mortal Kombat tablet, with a dragon stamped on it, could be the common link between them and Ms MacColl's death. | Initial investigations have suggested that a red Mortal Kombat tablet, with a dragon stamped on it, could be the common link between them and Ms MacColl's death. |
| Supt Alan Cunningham, of Police Scotland, dismissed suggestions that a rogue batch could be to blame and said there were safety issues with all illegal drugs. | Supt Alan Cunningham, of Police Scotland, dismissed suggestions that a rogue batch could be to blame and said there were safety issues with all illegal drugs. |
| "The reality is that no illicit drugs are safe, they are inherently unsafe," he said. | "The reality is that no illicit drugs are safe, they are inherently unsafe," he said. |
| "You don't know what the manufacturing process is. You can't believe, quite frankly, what anyone tells you around that process of what the contents are. | "You don't know what the manufacturing process is. You can't believe, quite frankly, what anyone tells you around that process of what the contents are. |
| "So, our advice is, don't take any of these substances. | "So, our advice is, don't take any of these substances. |
| Drug arrest | |
| Dr Alastair Ireland, clinical director of emergency medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary - where Ms MacColl died - warned people about the dangers of taking Mortal Kombat pills and other illegal drugs. | Dr Alastair Ireland, clinical director of emergency medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary - where Ms MacColl died - warned people about the dangers of taking Mortal Kombat pills and other illegal drugs. |
| "We are deeply concerned about people taking this dangerous drug and cannot stress enough the effects they can cause including death," he said. | "We are deeply concerned about people taking this dangerous drug and cannot stress enough the effects they can cause including death," he said. |
| "I would urge anyone who has taken one of these tablets and begins to feel unwell to seek immediate medical help." | "I would urge anyone who has taken one of these tablets and begins to feel unwell to seek immediate medical help." |
| As part of the investigation, a 19-year-old woman was arrested in Clydebank on Sunday over alleged drug offences, however, the arrest is not thought to be connected to Mortal Kombat pills. | |
| She has since been released and is due to appear in court at a later date. | |
| In the past year, various agencies and police forces across the UK have issued alerts about substances which contain para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA). | In the past year, various agencies and police forces across the UK have issued alerts about substances which contain para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA). |
| PMA is chemically similar to MDMA - ecstasy - and it is often sold as such. It is, however, much more toxic. | PMA is chemically similar to MDMA - ecstasy - and it is often sold as such. It is, however, much more toxic. |
| Dozens of deaths in the UK have been linked to the drug, a standard dose of which can be five-to-10 times stronger than ecstasy. | Dozens of deaths in the UK have been linked to the drug, a standard dose of which can be five-to-10 times stronger than ecstasy. |
| Carol Kelly, chief executive of drugs information and support charity Crew 2000, said illegal drugs such as the Mortal Kombat pills - which are thought to contain PMA - could cause life-threatening episodes. | Carol Kelly, chief executive of drugs information and support charity Crew 2000, said illegal drugs such as the Mortal Kombat pills - which are thought to contain PMA - could cause life-threatening episodes. |
| She explained: "You could have irregular heartbeat. You could have difficulties associated with circulation. | She explained: "You could have irregular heartbeat. You could have difficulties associated with circulation. |
| "You can also, as a result of PMA, overheat very rapidly and that is a known cause of death amongst people who have consumed these substances." | "You can also, as a result of PMA, overheat very rapidly and that is a known cause of death amongst people who have consumed these substances." |