Manchester’s Gay Village cordoned off and hotel evacuated after ‘chemical incident’

A hotel on Canal Street, the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village, has been evacuated amid a ‘chemical incident’.

A man staying at an unspecified hotel has been arrested and specialist crews are ‘examining the material’ inside the room.

Businesses within a police cordon have also been evacuated, with investigators spotted around On Bar.

A cordon from the junction with Abingdon Street to the junction with Sackville Street is in place.

Bar Pop, which is a few feet away from the incident, told customers over Instagram that the bar is still open.

‘You can still access the bar from Chorlton Street end,’ it said.

The fire services told Metro: ‘At around 11.25am, two fire engines from Moss Side and Gorton were called to a premises on Canal Street, Manchester, after reports of a smell causing suspicion, believed to be chemicals.

‘We are currently working alongside partners from Greater Manchester Police to examine the contents and are working to make the area safe.

‘No injures have been reported but firefighters remain at the scene at this time.’

In a statement, a Greater Manchester Police 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.’

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