Road gas alarm in Gevelsberg: nine people to the hospital after incident!

Road gas alarm in Gevelsberg: nine people to the hospital after incident!

in Gevelsberg (Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis) there was a dangerous incident in a supermarket on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. An unknown perpetrator exuded irritated gas in the entrance area, which led to a high -grade alert of the fire brigade, police and emergency services. As a precaution, nine people had to be transported to a clinic after the incident, after a total of 35 customers and employees of the market complained about acute complaints such as tearful eyes and breathing difficulties. The supermarket was evacuated and all evacuated were examined by the emergency services.  FAZ reported that the fire brigade was no longer at risk, since the irritant gas is no longer possible evaporated.

The situation resulted in an extensive operational reaction in which at least 60 emergency services from the entire Ennepe-Ruhr district were hired. The mayor of the city was also on site and had drinks provided for the injured people. The police are planning to evaluate video recordings from the supermarket to identify the fleeting perpetrator. This had probably used pepper spray to defend himself when stealing goods and has been on the run since then. In addition to the injured people, the bystanders also had to be cared for because they suffered symptoms such as respiratory irritation. The city of Gevelsberg showed its operational readiness by providing employees with drinks to support and care for the people saved from the supermarket.  WDR informed that five of the nine injured people were taken to hospital with ambulance.

comparison with similar incidents

Similar incidents have recently triggered concern. A comparable event recently occurred in a Kaufland branch in Waldheim, Saxony, where 41 people were affected by an unknown substance. Here, those affected complained about massive respiratory irritation and other symptoms. Rescue workers had to take 15 people to the hospital with stronger symptoms, with the police also initiating investigations there for dangerous bodily harm.  Berliner Kurier reports that similar incidents, for example with pepper spray in Munich 2019 and irritable gas in a Berlin U-Bahn 2021 Past took place and the police always seek witnesses.

The affected supermarket in Gevelsberg had reopened in the evening after the incident, but the case remains under observation of the investigative authorities. Events throw a light on the security situation and the risk of such incidents. The exact identity and motivation of the perpetrator are still unknown, which stimulates the police for an intensive search.