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A huge police operation was launched around a Coventry hotel because a highly toxic chemical was found alongside the body of a man, an inquest has heard.

Officers, paramedics and hazardous substance experts were called to the Ibis Hotel, in Mile Lane, Cheylesmore, on January 9 to reports that a man had died.

At the time police were unable to say what prompted the huge response but, at the start of an inquest into the man’s death today, Coventry coroner Sean McGovern said a container labelled potassium cyanide had been found in his room.

The lethal chemical – used in jewellery manufacture and gold mining – has been used by a number of prominent individuals to commit suicide.

No verdict will be reached in this inquest until May, when the hearing will be resumed.

Yesterday, Mr McGovern identified the dead man as 28-year-old Kalveer Singh Chall, of Benedictine Road, Cheylesmore.

Mr Chall was a PhD chemistry student at the University of Warwick.

Mr McGovern said : “Mr Chall was found dead in room 15 of the Ibis Hotel in Mile Lane on January 9.

“In his room was found a container labelled potassium cyanide. As a result of that a post mortem examination took place.

“At the moment the cause of death is unascertained pending further testing of Mr Chall’s blood and his gastric contents.”

The inquest was opened this afternoon to allow Mr Chall’s family to make funeral arrangements.

The hearing will resume in May subject to Mr Chall’s family being available and further evidence being obtained.

“I offer my condolences to Mr Kalveer Singh Chall’s family and friends,” Mr McGovern added.

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The hotel was evacuated and closed after Mr Chall’s body was discovered. Guests were moved to a nearby hotel.

The Ibis remained shut while investigations into his death continued, although police were quick to rule out foul play, stating his death was “not suspicious”. The hotel re-opened the following day.

At the time a spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “The room has been secured and the hotel has been evacuated as a precaution as specialist colleagues from partner emergency services are at the scene to ensure the safety of others.

“The death is being treated as unexplained at this time but early indications are that the death is not suspicious.”

The sale of potassium cyanide is heavily restricted in the UK.