St Paul’s RC High School: 13-year-old girl arrested and school evacuated after ‘aerosol gas discharge’

A 13-year-old girl was arrested by Greater Manchester police after an incident which saw two pupils taken to hospital.

Emergency services including police, firefighters and paramedics were called to St Paul’s RC High School in Wythenshawe on Wednesday afternoon amid reports of an ‘aerosol discharge’. No further information was given on what gas was involved.

Greater Manchester Police said: “Following an incident involving the release of gas from an aerosol can at a school on Firbank Road, Manchester, we can confirm a 13-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of possession of a section 5 offensive weapon.”

The North West Ambulance Service initially declared a major incident and more than 100 people needed medical assessment.

Two pupils were also taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, with minor breathing difficulties.

NWAS said: “At 12.16pm (on Wednesday) the service was called to an incident involving a release of gas at St Paul’s RC High School, Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester.

“Due to the number of potential casualties and the resources needed at the scene, the trust declared a major incident.

“We sent 21 resources including emergency ambulances, our Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart), advanced paramedics, Merit doctors and volunteer services who between them assessed more than 100 potential patients.

“Of those, two were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital with breathing difficulties – none of the conditions presented to us were life-threatening.”