Suspected gas leak hurts eight at Sweden security HQ

Eight people, including police officers, are in hospital after a suspected gas leak at Sweden's security service headquarters.

Around 500 people were evacuated after residents reported an unusual smell.

Local media say sensors on the roof of the building detected phosgene, but authorities have not confirmed this.

Phosgene is used to make plastics and pesticides, and was responsible for the vast majority of chemical deaths during World War One.

Emergency services launched a major operation after a call from the headquarters of Sapo, Sweden's security service. in Solna, outside Stockholm city centre, at 12:30 (11:30 GMT) on Friday.

The nearest exit of a nearby motorway was closed and barriers set up hundreds of metres around the premises.

A Sapo spokeswoman told public broadcaster SVT there had been a "partial evacuation" of the building.

Six people were sent to hospital with breathing problems and two others admitted themselves. Among these were police officers who "noticed a smell when they arrived at the scene", police said.

Images from the scene showed police officers wearing gas masks, and a helicopter circled the area. People in buildings nearby were told to shut their windows.

Schoolchildren were kept indoors, a teacher told broadcaster TV4. People who live in the sealed-off zone were refused access to their homes.

First responders ended their operation and removed barriers at about 16:30.

The BBC has approached Sapo for comment.

The incident came as Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited the capital of Hungary, the only Nato member that has not yet ratified Stockholm's accession to the alliance.

The Hungarian parliament is expected to approve Sweden's membership on Monday.