Passengers feel ill and the train is evacuated after the use of pepper spray on Line 5-Lilac of the SP subway

Passengers panicked and became ill this Thursday (15) after a user sprayed pepper spray inside a train on Line 5-Lilac of the São Paulo subway. At Largo Treze station, the train had to be evacuated.

Passenger Lara Ferreira, 27, told g1 that she was on her way to work, in Bom Retiro, and was taking her usual route, using subway lines 5-Lilac and 1-Blue.

The train had just left Santo Amaro station, towards Chácara Klabin, when passengers started coughing and feeling sick. The episode occurred around 8:30 am, at a busy time, according to her.

"Some people started shouting for help, and [the effect of the spray] spread to other carriages, because the passage between the carriages is open on Line 5-Lilac. I became quite dizzy, with a lot of headache and throat irritation. I have breathing problems and I'm even having a bout of bronchitis", reported Lara.

In a video recorded by the passenger, it is possible to hear people screaming for help inside the train. Afterwards, the images show dozens of passengers coughing on the station platform.

According to Motiva, the concessionaire responsible for the line, six people needed medical attention after inhaling the spray. Five of them were taken to area hospitals.

After the first evacuation, Lara boarded another train, but again saw passengers feeling sick. According to her, the new episode occurred between the Hospital São Paulo and Santa Cruz stations.

"Leaving the Hospital São Paulo station, going to Santa Cruz, at that time the subway was already a little more empty due to what had happened, and people started to feel very sick again. When we arrived at the station, we evacuated the subway again", he said.

Lara and the other passengers were unable to identify who had thrown the pepper spray.

In a statement, Motiva reported that Customer Service and Security (AAS) agents provided first aid to passengers and referred those who requested specialized medical care. “The circumstances of the incident are being investigated,” said the concessionaire.