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Shoppers hurt by mall pepper spray blast

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Police in Winnipeg, Manitoba, were reviewing security videos Tuesday after a man injured several shoppers with pepper spray in a packed shopping mall.

The incident happened Monday afternoon at the Polo Park mall when two men got into a dispute, witnesses told the Winnipeg Sun.

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One man produced an aerosol can of pepper spray and let go a long blast of it, witnesses said.

The mall was packed as shoppers observed Boxing Day in which retailers slash prices to clear Christmas inventory.

Police Constable Jason Michalyshen told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. three people were taken to the hospital with burning eyes and breathing problems, although hundreds of other shoppers were also affected.

Mall management turned off the ventilation system to prevent spreading the spray and firefighters set up exhaust fans to clear the air, the reports said.

Police were examining security videos in an attempt to identify the two men in the dispute. Witnesses said both fled as soon as the spray was discharged.

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