1,200 pupils and staff at Lipson community college evacuated

17th September 1999, 1:00am

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1,200 pupils and staff at Lipson community college evacuated

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/1200-pupils-and-staff-lipson-community-college-evacuated
(Photograph) - All 1,200 pupils and staff at Lipson community college, Plymouth, were evacuated and 39 people were treated in hospital for burning throats, itchy eyes and runny noses after the release of CS gas on Monday morning.

Principal Steve Baker, pictured with firefighters, said: “It is a real testament to teachers and the children that they came to an open evening after being discharged from hospital.

“We carried out an investigation. We looked at cleaning materials and checked in the science lab but could find nothing to explain what happened.

“The smell was a bit like burning tyres.”

The gas was released in a stairway just as pupils returned from morning break. Two people were arrested and released on bail following the incident.

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