Street in Oxford evacuated after police uncover 'potential chemical hazard'

Two officers are being kept in hospital after seven were exposed

Elizabeth Jennings Way in Oxford was cordoned off after police were told of a 'potential chemical hazard' (Google Street View)

Two police officers are in hospital after they were exposed to a “chemical hazard” during an arrest in Oxford.

Police evacuated part of a street after uncovering what was first described as a “potential chemical hazard”.

Seven officers were affected during the incident and two are being kept in hospital, Thames Valley Police (TVP) confirmed, and a 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of harassment without injury.

“Our officers were conducting a routine arrest” in Elizabeth Jennings Way at 5.16am today, a TVP spokeswoman told The Independent, when “we were made aware by the occupant of a potential chemical hazard”.

No members of the public were reported to have been injured, the spokeswoman added.

The force said in a later statement: “Seven officers were affected by the substance which caused some of them minor irritation and two are being kept in hospital overnight. The only people affected are the officers and arrested person.

“The property is safe. Officers are attending and continue with their search and investigation and it is hoped that residents will be allowed to return during the course of the day.

“The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.”

Firefighters and paramedics were called.

According to the Oxford Mail, a nursery in the road called Bright Horizons was closed and 90 parents told to keep their children away.

John Howson, a local Liberal Democrat councillor, told Mail Online: “As it was a police operation in the first place officers were able to immediately call the hazardous chemicals team when they spotted the danger.”