Victim, who lives in Greater Manchester, said to have eaten castor seeds containing toxin

This article is more than 8 months old

This article is more than 8 months old

A man has been taken to hospital in Greater Manchester after reportedly swallowing a poisonous substance believed to be ricin.

Police cordoned off Moor Lane and Sale Road in Northern Moor, Wythenshawe, as officers wearing hazmat suits entered a property.

The man, who is in his 20s, is being treated after consuming an unknown substance, police confirmed. They said there was no wider threat to the community.

It is thought the man had consumed castor seeds, which contain traces of the toxin ricin, which is potentially deadly.

A spokeswoman for the North West ambulance service said they were called to a private address on Moor Lane at 8:43am on Saturday.

There has been a large-scale response to the incident, including the deployment of a hazardous area response team.

The fire service are also at the scene with four fire engines and a hazardous materials team.

The patient was taken to Wythenshaw hospital, the spokeswoman said. A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester police said he was in stable condition.

A spokesman for the police later said it could not confirm the man was poisoned by ricin until a toxicology report was carried out.

Lee Hannon (@HannonTV) Curious situation in Northern Moor, Manchester. Emergency services in Hazmat suits dealing with a man who has has become seriously ill pic.twitter.com/3qH2qIrFve

Jim Hutton, who lives near to the property, told the Manchester Evening News that he had seen the man’s mother in distress and that she had twice come out of the building shouting.

Another neighbour told the Manchester newspaper the victim had been brought out on a stretcher in a hazmat suit accompanied by two family members, one of whom was very distressed.

“It’s absolutely crazy. I just hope everyone’s OK,” the neighbour said.