Four injured in horrific 3am attack after ‘unknown substance’ sprayed on police

Four police officers were injured after an “unknown substance” was sprayed on them in Birmingham. A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and assault following the horror attack just before 3am today, Thursday 16 May.

West Midlands Ambulance Service sent an ambulance, paramedic officer and the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team to Manby Road, near Innsworth Drive, in Castle Vale, at 2.46am. Two women and two men were treated by medics at the scene.

Fortunately, the officer’s injuries are not believed to be serious. They were taken to Heartlands Hospital for further treatment. West Midlands Police said a 38-year-old man is currently in custody and will be questioned.

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Police said they were called to a block of Manby Road at around 2.20am after a man barricaded himself in a property. When the police arrived, a small fire was started in the stairwell, which was extinguished by the police.

Superintendent Sam Batey, from Birmingham Police, said: “Our number one priority was to ensure the safety of residents and from the body-worn video we feel our officers showed serious bravery given what they faced presented. They are being treated for their injuries and we hope they will make a full recovery.

“We have a man in custody and he will be interviewed this morning and our inquiries are progressing.”

An ambulance service spokesman told BirminghamLive: “We were called to reports of patients having an unknown substance thrown at them on Manby Road at 2.46am, an ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Hazardous Area Response Team of the Trust attended the scene.

“Upon arrival we found four patients, two men and two women. All were treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to Heartlands Hospital.”

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