4 officers taken to hospital after NW ‘chemical suicide’

A 'chemical suicide' incident in G District resulted in one fatality and four police officers being taken to hospital as a precautionary measure in 2011.

The officers were amongst 12 who co-ordinated a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response to the incident, which centred on a vehicle.

The exact location of the incident was not revealed although it occurred somewhere across the wider Londonderry, Strabane, Limavady and Magherafelt policing area.

There were three other such incidents across Northern Ireland over 2011 and 2012.

Chemical suicide - also known as ‘detergent suicide’ - involves mixing of common household chemicals into a lethally intoxicating cloud of vapour.

According to the PSNI one person died in the G District incident.

“Police response was in respect of incident and identification of deceased, co-ordination of CBRN multi-agency response involving Fire Ambulance, Public Health, recovery of body on behalf of coroner, search of vehicle regarding other chemicals,” the PSNI revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Four police officers - those first on the scene - were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Scenes involving a contaminated fatalities must be dealt with in accordance with Home Office guidance, which was published in 2009.