This was the dramatic scene at Costco after it was locked down when ten people were sprayed with a ‘mystery liquid’ during an attack at the Somerset branch.
The customer carpark at the store in Avonmouth, Bristol, was lit-up by flashing police lights and swarms of ambulances surrounded the supermarket.
There was a also temporary ‘lockdown’ of the building trapping hundreds of customers inside.
One person, who has chosen to remain anonymous told he was locked inside the store with his son and hundreds of other customers for just over an hour.
He said: ‘Initially they closed the door to the entrance and stopped letting people in and stopped letting people out.
‘Seven or eight police cars, three or four ambulances, some undercover police cars and a specialist incident team showed up.
‘I was speaking with one of the officers and he didn’t correct me when I said do you think it is as a suspect terrorist attack.’
A fleet of emergency services were called to Costco just after 6.30pm last night.
The customer added: ‘There was someone standing with three boxes of pizza desperate to get out.
‘I was asking if we could go out the back entrance but they said the police asked for no one to leave.
‘When we did leave the police were asking about irritation of the skin, our eyes, and confirming we hadn’t been affected.
‘There were a lot of ambulance staff who came into the building, the member of staff or member of the public got taken to the staff room at the back.
‘There were people running in and out of the building, mainly paramedics and firemen, kitted out in bright yellow outfits.’
Ten people were injured after being sprayed with a homemade ‘chilli spray’, which was extremely painful causing stinging or itchy eyes and skin.
Customers at the Somerset branch had to have medical treatment at the scene after the nightmare unfolded last night.
Police quickly arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of ‘attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and administering a noxious substance.’
The boy complained about itchy or stinging eyes and skin.
Costco staff offered first aid to injured customers until the ambulance service arrived.
A police spokesperson said: ‘Police, fire and ambulance crews attended in a coordinated multi-agency response.
‘Ten people – including the boy – were complaining of stinging or itchy eyes and skin. Store staff provided first aid until ambulance crews arrived.
‘People responded well to treatment and were discharged by the ambulance service at the scene.
‘The liquid is believed to be a type of home-made ‘chilli spray’ with no strong acid or alkaline ingredients.
‘A juvenile was arrested on suspicion of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and administering a noxious substance, and remains in police custody.
‘The incident concluded by about 8.30pm and police resources cleared the scene by 9pm.
‘If you saw what happened, or have any footage or information which could help the investigation, please call 101 and give the reference 5225042707.’
Costco declined to comment.