Police wearing hazmat (hazardous material) suits have closed down a street in Manchester and a man has been taken to hospital with suspected ricin poisoning.
The specially equipped police officers locked down Moor Lane and nearby Sale Road in Wythenshawe on Saturday morning after a 'chemical issue' was reported.
It is thought the hospitalised man might have consumed castor seeds, which contain small traces of ricin, a deadly poison.
Eyewitness reports claim a woman was seen running out of her house shouting 'where the f*** are they? My son is dying in there' at around 9am this morning.
The incident is only thought to affect one person, and other local residents are not thought to be in any danger.
A large emergency service presence, including four fire engines and the hazmat team, are still present at the address.
One eyewitness reported: "Northern Moor police in biohazard suits. There is quite a lot more police and fire service here than there was this morning."
Another said: "There's lots of police, ambulances and fire brigade. They taped the road off.
"There's a lot of them here. I'm outside one of the houses which has been taped off. They said there's a chemical issue, that's all they told us."
Further reports from witnesses said that paramedics were not permitted to enter the house until they have been properly suited up to protect themselves.
The victim was brought out on a stretcher, accompanied by two members of his family.
Jim Hutton, who lives in the area close to where the incident occurred, told Manchester Evening News: "The lad's mother came out of the house shouting 'where the f*** are they? My son's dying in there'.
"They were putting their bio suits on at that point, they didn't know exactly what was happening at first."
Greater Manchester Police said: "Police were called by the ambulance service shortly before 9am this morning (Saturday 4 January 2020) to a report of concern for the welfare of a man at a property on Moor Lane, Northern Moor.
"It was established that the man had consumed an at this time unknown substance.
"A man, aged in his 20s, is being treated at the scene and remains in a stable condition. A scene is in place on Moor Lane, which is currently closed to traffic.
"There is no wider threat to the community. Enquiries are ongoing."
North West Ambulance Service said that the victim was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital for more treatment.
Featured Image Credit: MEN Media