Police evacuate about 500 people from Sweden's security agency over suspected gas leak

Swedish broadcaster TV4 says a suspected gas leak at the headquarters of Sweden’s security agency forced the authorities to evacuate some 500 people from the facility

Sweden Security Agency

A suspected gas leak at the headquarters of Sweden’s security agency on Friday forced the authorities to evacuate some 500 people from the facility, Swedish broadcaster TV4 said.

Police spokesman Anders Bryngelsson told the TT news agency that emergency services decided to evacuate the entire building because of a "suspected gas leak” but did not elaborate.

Five people had breathing problems and were taken to hospital, chief physician Patrik Söderberg at Stockholm Region, the regional hospital authority, later told TT.

Images shared from the scene showed first reponders and police officers wearing gas masks, and Swedish media reported that a zone measuring 500 meters (547 yards) in diameter was set up protectively.

Neighbors near the Swedish security agency, known by its acronym SAPO, were asked to close their windows. The agency is headquartered in Solna, just north of Stockholm.