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Warsaw metro gas leak a prank?

PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp 08.05.2014 12:49
After the Warsaw metro was shut down earlier this week due to a pungent smell of gas, Warsaw authorities believe that the closure may have been caused on purpose.

Fire
Fire fighters at Centrum metro station on the first day the smell of gas was detected, Warsaw 06.05.2014 Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

A number of reasons have surfaced as to the possible cause of the smell of gas, including a newly surfaced section of Marszalkowska street, which runs adjacent to the metro line in the city centre.

Nevertheless, it is still not known what caused the smell on the capital’s metro. Metro spokesman Krzysztof Malawko told Polish Radio RDC on Thursday morning that comments on internet forums included “the belief that old rolling stock is gas powered, or that it was the work of Russian separatists.”

“Of course one can joke but the situation is very serious,” he added.

However, Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz has suggested that the mysterious smell might have been caused by practical jokers. City authorities and police are now scouring over hours of CCTV footage for any clues of wrongdoing.

“We will be checking footage as the incident caused a paralysis in the city,” Gronkiewicz-Waltz said, adding that “if the perpetrators are caught they will be liable to foot the bill for replacement bus and tram services.”

Speaking to Polish Radio, the Warsaw mayor did confirm that the substance used to produce the smell was not hazardous to people’s health.

“We believe that it was a smell which was dispersed on purpose, as chemical analyses from the fire brigade and police did not find the substance to be poisonous, and that the substance was either sprayed or poured in the metro,” Gronkiewicz-Waltz informed. (jb)

tags: gas, metro, Warsaw
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