Dozens of young people have been treated by paramedics after becoming ill at a concert venue in Belfast. Fifteen people were taken to two hospitals to be treated for the effects of drugs and alcohol. No-one was seriously injured. Thousands of people were at Dutch DJ Hardwell's concert at the Odyssey Arena. A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesman said many of those treated by paramedics were already intoxicated when they arrived at the venue.
John McPoland said: "We believe the majority arrived suffering from too much alcohol. "We declared a major incident because of the number of resources we had to deploy to the scene."
A police spokesman said a number of young people, "believed to be in excess of 20", were treated inside the venue. He said police enquiries were continuing.
A spokesman for the Odyssey Arena, Adrian Doyle, said: "It is our understanding that a number of patrons arriving to attend a concert by Dutch DJ act Hardwell have required medical attention, having already been intoxicated on their arrival at the complex. "These patrons were not granted entry to the Odyssey Arena, and were treated by the Ambulance Service outside."
Dr Tony Stephens of the Belfast Health Trust said the 15 patients who had been admitted to the Royal Victoria and Mater Hospitals' emergency departments were in a stable condition.
