Animal Repellent Spray in Gym Hall - Eight Students Slightly Injured - Eight German students injured after accidental animal repellent spray exposure

Eight pupils at a high school in Pirmasens experienced minor injuries after accidentally inhaling animal repellent spray. The incident occurred during a physical education lesson, prompting a police investigation into how the substance was released.

The accident took place when a 17-year-old student unintentionally sprayed the repellent. Police, working alongside school staff, confirmed the substance was not used deliberately. All eight affected pupils reported mild respiratory irritation but did not need hospital treatment or ambulance transport.

Incidents involving chemical substances in schools remain rare in Germany. Over the past five years, no widespread reports of similar cases have emerged. While isolated events, such as a 2023 incident with irritant gas in a Berlin school, have been recorded, no pattern of repeated occurrences exists.

Authorities are examining the circumstances of the spray's discharge. The pupils involved suffered only temporary discomfort, with no serious health effects reported. Schools in the region have not faced comparable incidents in recent years.