Two people have been arrested after an “unknown substance” was allegedly sprayed inside a Bunnings, resulting in 10 people, nine of whom were women or girls, being rushed to hospital.
The victims suffered a “burning sensation in their eyes, nose and throat” after the incident on Thursday at the Bunnings store in Peel Terrace, Northam, WA.
WA Police said ‘in an isolated incident, two people entered the store at around 2.30pm and one of them (allegedly) sprayed an unknown substance in the vicinity of several customers and staff.
“Northam officers immediately launched an investigation which resulted in the arrest of two individuals.”
Ten people – seven women, two teenagers and one man – were taken by ambulance from St John to Northam Regional Hospital.
Those hospitalized included both staff and customers.
Two people have been arrested after an ‘unknown substance’ was allegedly sprayed inside a Bunnings store in Northam, WA (pictured), resulting in 10 people being rushed to hospital.
Ten people, including staff and clients, were taken by ambulance from St John to Northam Regional Hospital: seven women, two teenagers and one man (file image)
The women were between 20 and 50 years old and the man was in his 20s. Western Australia reported.
His injuries were not life-threatening.
“We take the safety of our team and our customers incredibly seriously and thank our team for the way they calmly handled the situation,” a Bunnings spokeswoman told WhatsNew2Day Australia on Friday night, confirming the incident. .
“As this is now a police matter, we cannot offer any further comment.”
Seven firefighters responded to the scene of the fire in Northam, 95 kilometers northwest of the state capital, Perth.
A police investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about it is asked to contact stop crime at 1800 333 000.
