Emergency services descended on a building in Leicester city centre on Saturday, February 14, after reports of a strange smell prompted a major response. The incident led to the temporary closure of all traffic lanes on London Road near Victoria Park, causing significant disruption in the area.
Swift Police and Fire Brigade Response
Leicestershire Police were the first to arrive at the premises on London Road, which features ground-floor restaurants. Upon detecting an unusual odour, officers swiftly called in the Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection team from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service at approximately 3pm.
The hazardous materials unit, equipped to handle potential chemical or biological threats, conducted a thorough search of the building. As a precaution, all four lanes of London Road were shut down to traffic while the investigation was underway.
Road Reopened After All-Clear Given
By 4.30pm, the fire service provided an update via social media, stating: "Update to incident on London Road, Leicester. Incident is coming to a close and scaling down, there were no injuries. Road will be open shortly."
The road was fully reopened and police cordons lifted by 5.40pm, according to local reports. A fire service spokesperson confirmed on Sunday, February 15, that investigators found nothing hazardous inside the building, bringing the alert to a peaceful conclusion.
Recent Similar Incident in Loughborough
This Leicester incident occurred just days after the hazardous materials team was deployed to Baxter Gate in Loughborough town centre on Wednesday, February 11. Around 1pm that afternoon, emergency services closed the area following concerns about a "hazardous substance" at a restaurant.
During that event, residents in surrounding buildings were advised to keep doors and windows shut and remain indoors as a safety measure. The substance was later identified as salt, posing no actual danger.
Hoax Call Suspect Arrested
Following the Loughborough incident, Leicestershire Police arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of making a hoax call. He has since been released on bail pending further investigation. This highlights the serious consequences of false alarms that divert critical emergency resources.
Both incidents underscore the vigilance of Leicestershire's emergency services in responding to potential hazardous material threats, even when they ultimately prove to be false alarms or minor concerns.
