A major incident at a German comprehensive school saw 20 children injured, with nine being rushed to hospital. Emergency services stormed the school on Wednesday afternoon after a teen reportedly used pepper spray during a dispute between children at around 2.20pm. 

The incident inside the building of the Europaschule (European School) Köln in Raderthal, Cologne is now being investigated by police. Alongside officers, the fire brigade also responded to what was described as a “mass casualty incident” with a large deployment.

“Initially we were told one person was injured, but it quickly became clear that several children were suffering severe eye irritation,” a fire service spokesman told Rundschau. This prompted the force to upgrade the severity of the incident.

Cologne police reported that there is currently no further danger and that all victims not taken to hospital are now being cared for by loved ones. 

Reports suggest that most of the children were suffering from severe eye irritation. The nine youngsters taken to hospital are aged between 12 and 14, according to local reports. 

The incident comes just two months after multiple children were treated following a tear gas attack at another primary school in Germany.

A man sprayed at least 20 children in the stairwell of the school along Kleinfellerstraße, in Hanau, a city 15 miles east of Frankfurt.

Six girls and 14 boys were treated for breathing problems. Two pupils were taken to the hospital. Police said: “Some students also reported hearing a bang, which suggests the use of a so-called pepper spray gun.”