KUALA LUMPUR: A woman used a bear pepper spray against a team of police and firemen when they tried to open the door of her apartment in Dutamas.

Sentul OCPD Asst Comm R. Munusamy said on Friday (Feb 2) afternoon police responded to a call by the apartment's landlord that her husband had been attacked with a pepper spray by their tenant a 42-year-old American woman, at the apartment.

"When the police came knocking at her door, they were sprayed by the suspect," he said in a statement on Saturday (Feb 3).

A total of eight policemen and five firefighters were hit by the pepper spray, which is used to deter aggressive bears.

The firefighters had been called in to assist the police in breaking down the door.

All 13 personnel were sent to the Kuala Lumpur hospital for treatment.

"The suspect was eventually coerced into surrendering herself and she admitted to using the spray," said ACP Munusamy.