A woman was immediately rushed to the hospital after claiming she had come into contact with the highly toxic nerve agent Novichok in Belfast, triggering a significant emergency response.
However, emergency news later confirmed that no Novichok was discovered at the property.
Firefighters sealed off part of Harper Street in the Short Strand area shortly after 10.15am on Wednesday.
Residents were instructed to escort off their homes while emergency services assessed the situation.
As per police, there was no wider threat to the public, and operations were later decreased after finding no evidence of Novichok.
Several emergency vehicles attended, including three ambulances, an NI Ambulance Service Incident Response unit and at least four Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service appliances. Firefighters were seen wearing protective masks while inspecting the property.
The woman who reported the incident remained at the property while emergency responders efficiently handled the entire situation.
It was understood that first responders had initially been told she had taken or come into contact with the nerve agent.
Novichok is a group of highly toxic nerve agents developed by the former Soviet Union during the 1970s and 1980s. The chemicals interfere with the normal functioning of the nervous system and can lead to life-threatening conditions.
The substance widely became popular after the 2018 Salisbury poisoning, in which former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were exposed to Novichok. Both survived the poisoning.
Dawn Sturgess, a mother of three, later died after accidentally interfering with a fatal amount of Novichok that had been left inside a discarded perfume bottle.
Despite the initial alarm in Belfast, authorities reassured residents that there is currently no indication of a broader danger after Wednesday’s incident.
