Radioactive Scare in West London as Man Swallows Dangerous Substance
Emergency services raced to Holland Park Road tonight after a man reportedly swallowed the synthetic radioactive chemical Americium.
Fire, Police, and Medics Scramble to Scene
Police, firefighters, and London Ambulance Service paramedics all converged on the scene following the 7:30pm call. Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) experts from the London Fire Brigade were also deployed to contain the potential radioactive threat.
Americium: Not Just in Smoke Alarms
Americium is commonly found in small amounts inside smoke detectors but is dangerous in larger quantities. It can also be used to make “dirty bombs,” raising fears about the seriousness of the ingestion.
It remains unclear whether the ingestion was accidental or intentional. The Met Police have been contacted for comment as the investigation continues.
