LIVEUpdated 9 mins ago
A hotel has been evacuated in Manchester’s Gay Village today
Emergency services at Canal Street following hotel evacuation (Image: MEN/Kenny Brown )
A police scene is in place in Manchester’s Gay Village this afternoon amid a ‘chemical incident’.
A stretch of Canal Street has been cordoned off by officers. A hotel on the street has been fully evacuated.
Police said a room in the hotel is being searched after the smell of ‘chemicals’ was reported. One man has been arrested.
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Searches are underway in the hotel as specialist crews ‘examine the material’. Nobody has been injured, the GMP spokesperson added.
In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: “We are currently searching a hotel room at a premises on Canal Street, Manchester. This follows a report of a smell – currently believed to be chemicals – causing suspicion.
“A man, believed to be the occupant of the room, has been detained and is currently in custody. As a precautionary measure, the hotel has been evacuated while specialist resources examine the material and conduct further enquiries.
“No-one has been injured and we are working to establish the full circumstances. We thank people for their patience as we continue with our work.”
Follow our live blog below for the latest updates on this incident.
Today15:00 BST
LIVE from the Gay Village
Today14:49 BST
Local bar remains open
Bar Pop, which is a few feet away from the incident has told customers that they are still open.
According to the nightclub, police has advised that it is “safe to open.”
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Today14:36 BST
Businesses evacuated
Greta says that some shops in the Gay Village have also been cleared.
Investigators have been spotted around On Bar on Canal Street.
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Today14:26 BST
Photo from scene
This is what it looks like near Canal Street at the moment.
Emergency services at Canal Street following hotel evacuation(Image: MEN/Kenny Brown )
Today14:17 BST
Several cordons in place
A number of roads near Canal Street have also been blocked off.
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Today14:15 BST
First images from the scene
Multiple firefighters and police officers are in the area.
Emergency services at Canal Street following hotel evacuation(Image: MEN/Kenny Brown )
Emergency services at Canal Street following hotel evacuation(Image: MEN/Kenny Brown )
Today14:08 BST
Our reporter is at the scene
Greta has arrived at Canal Street.
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Today13:58 BST
‘Suspicious smell’ reported to police
The police probe on Canal Street began after a ‘suspicious smell’ was reported to police.
The smell is believed to be coming from ‘chemicals’, police added.
Today13:43 BST
Nobody injured, police say
Police confirmed nobody has been injured in this incident.
Officers continue to work to ‘establish the full circumstances’.
Today13:31 BST
Searches underway in hotel room
Searches are being carried out inside a hotel room amid the ‘chemicals’ incident, police said.
The hotel has been evacuated.
Today13:17 BST
Police share statement on social media
Read GMP’s statement on the ongoing incident on Canal Street in full below.
Today13:11 BST
Cordon in place on Canal Street
A stretch of Canal Street is currently cordoned off by police.
The cordon stretches from the junction with Abingdon Street to the junction with Sackville Street.
A number of premises are within the cordon.
Today13:09 BST
Man arrested
A man has been arrested on the scene.
Police said he is believed to be the occupant of the hotel room where the ‘chemicals’ were reported to be.
The man has been detained and taken into police custody.
Today13:08 BST
GMP statement in full after ‘chemicals’ found in hotel room on Canal Street
In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said:
“We are currently searching a hotel room at a premises on Canal Street, Manchester. This follows a report of a smell – currently believed to be chemicals – causing suspicion. A man, believed to be the occupant of the room, has been detained and is currently in custody. As a precautionary measure, the hotel has been evacuated while specialist resources examine the material and conduct further enquiries. No-one has been injured and we are working to establish the full circumstances. We thank people for their patience as we continue with our work.”Follow Manchester Evening News: