Ten people were injured after being sprayed with a homemade “chilli spray” during an incident at Costco in Avonmouth, Bristol. Police have arrested a teenage suspect on suspicion of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and administering a noxious substance.
Emergency Response & Injuries
Emergency services, including police, fire, and ambulance crews, rushed to the store just after 6:30 pm last night (17 February) following reports of customers experiencing painful stinging and itching in their eyes and skin.
Costco staff provided first aid to those affected until paramedics arrived. The ten people injured, including the teenage suspect, were treated on-site and later discharged.
Store Lockdown & Witness Reports
Customers described the scene as chaotic, with some reporting that the store was temporarily locked down while authorities investigated.
One witness wrote on Facebook:
“The police were treating it as a terrorist attack. I and 100+ people got locked in and weren’t allowed out whilst they looked into it.”
Nature of the Substance
Following an assessment by emergency responders, authorities believe the liquid was a type of homemade “chilli spray”, which contained no strong acid or alkaline ingredients.
Police Statement & Investigation
A juvenile male suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
A police spokesperson stated:
“Police, fire, and ambulance crews attended in a coordinated multi-agency response. The incident concluded by about 8:30 pm, and police resources cleared the scene by 9 pm.”
Authorities have urged witnesses or anyone with footage to come forward.
Appeal for Information
Anyone who saw the incident or has relevant information is encouraged to contact 101, quoting reference 5225042707.
