Oxford man charged after 'poison attack' left police hospitalised
Police are not treating the incident as terror-related.
An Oxford man has been arrested for administering poison with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after police officers attempted to arrest him at his home.
Seven officers staged a dawn raid at the home of Hamad Nejad, 34, in the north of the city yesterday (9 October), when police say the unnamed poisonous substance was released.
In total, eight people were affected by the substance, including Nejad. Two officers were rushed to the nearby John Radcliffe Hospital and kept in overnight.
Nejad was eventually taken into custody and is due appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court. He has also been charged with witness intimidation. Police are not treating the incidents as terror-related.
Around 60 residents were forced to evacuate their homes early yesterday morning, and a local nursery was also closed.
"The difficulty was the unknown nature of the substance, but the emergency services acted extremely professionally to make sure everyone was safe," county councillor John Howson told the Oxford Mail.
The nearby Bright Horizons nursery was closed on police instruction and around 90 parents had to be contacted and told to keep their kids away from the area.
The communications manager for the nursery, Robert Booth, said: "We made alternative arrangements for nursery children at our sister nurseries nearby and are keeping families updated. The safety and well-being of our nursery children and of our staff remains our highest priority."
