Two people have been taken to hospital with breathing difficulties after a woman approached them with a bag in Bath, police have said.
A major operation is underway in the city centre after the incident led members of the public to ‘feel unwell’.
Footage circulating online shows officers wearing hazmat suits tending to members of the public in a cordon which has been set up right next to Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths.
Police have made no arrests thus far and have locked down the area on the main High Street which is usually packed with tourists in the summer.
Police said two people have been taken to hospital after reporting experiencing difficulty breathing and itchy eyes.
One witness said they saw members of the public being treated at the scene.
They said: ‘They took one woman off into some blue tarpaulin sheets and seemed to have hosed her down.
A huge police operation is underway in Bath this afternoon after a woman approached members of the public with a bag, which started making people ‘feel unwell.’
Pictured: Police guard a cordon on the main High Street in Bath as shoppers watch on
Witnesses told MailOnline that they saw members of the public being hosed down in the tents
‘She must have been told to remove her clothes, as she came out wearing a big orange suit covering her body.
‘Then she was walked to the ambulance escorted by what I think was a paramedic wearing a full hazmat suit with breathing apparatus.’
Robert Clench, who lives in the city centre, told MailOnline he was ‘stunned’ as he walked past and saw several emergency crews descending on the scene.
The 24-year-old added: ‘A very large area outside the Roman Baths was all cordoned off. I saw people in hazmat suits, fire, police and ambulances. Some people were stuck in a coffee shop within the restricted area and were not allowed to leave.
‘A large sheet of tarpaulin was covering people involved in the incident.’
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘Emergency services are responding to an incident in Bath.
‘At about 2.30pm a woman approached people with a bag in Stall Street, leading to some individuals then feeling unwell. The ambulance service made us aware at 3.08pm.
Witnesses told how those who were having coffees at a nearby cafe were told that they couldn’t leave
Emergency services, including police, fire and ambulances on the scene in Bath city centre
A huge section of the city centre was cordoned off. It is usually packed with shoppers and tourists
Several emergency crews rushed to the scene and the city centre was cordoned off
The incident happened just a stone’s throw away from Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths and the Pump Rooms
A police officer wearing a mask pictured at the scene after a woman approached people with a bag
‘We’re not aware of any further reports of people feeling unwell.
‘As a precaution, emergency personnel are wearing protective clothing.
‘We are working with South Western Ambulance Service and Avon Fire And Rescue Service at the scene and have well-rehearsed plans for responding to such incidents.’
