Selfridges: 'Unknown substance' sprayed at 14 shoppers after brawl

A man has been arrested after shoppers were sprayed with a "CS gas-like substance" at Selfridges, police said.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service were called to the department store on Oxford Street, central London, at around 1.40pm on Thursday following reports of a disturbance.

It was reported that a man in his 20s had been detained by security staff after he allegedly sprayed another man with an unknown substance.

Scotland Yard said the substance causes similar effects to CS gas.

The man was arrested on suspicion of affray and was taken into custody.

Nine members of the public have been treated at the scene for effects of the spray, the Metropolitan Police said.

However, the London Ambulance Service said it had treated 14 people at the scene and had dispatched "a number of resources including an incident response officer, ambulance crews and our hazardous area response teams".

Selfridges said an altercation broke out between two men at the store.

A spokeswoman told Sky News: "We can confirm the police are in attendance at our Oxford Street store following a short altercation between two males which involved the spraying of an unknown substance, believed to be CS gas, by one of the males.

"A few team members and customers were checked over by the ambulance service for irritated nose and throat, with all being given the all clear. The store continues to trade as normal."

Exposure to CS gas can cause a burning sensation and tearing of the eyes and can result in profuse coughing and breathing difficulties.

Enquiries into the incident continue.

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