THE headquarters of Sweden’s intelligence services (Säpo) in Stockholm vacated later today from a possible gas leak etch seven people were taken to hospital to receive first aid, the Authorities announced, without being able to determine the origin of the leak.

Police in gas masks and ambulances were deployed to the scene, which was evacuated around 1pm local time, according to images carried by Swedish media.

“Around 1 p.m. there was information about the presence of a dangerous substance at Säpo’s offices,” Patrick Söderberg, chief medical officer of the health services in the Stockholm region, told AFP.

“Five people who showed respiratory symptoms were taken to hospital and two others went there by their own means to provide them with first aid,” he added.

An investigation is underway, the doctor said, clarifying that he had no information about the leaked substance.

Säpo, for its part, “took action and emergency services are on the scene” after being notified, spokeswoman Karin Lutz told AFP.

The building was “partially evacuated,” she added, declining to elaborate or say whether a criminal act was being considered.

Sweden has raised its security alert level since last year and hopes to clear the final hurdle to its entry into NATO on Monday, with the Hungarian parliament’s vote on that membership.

A zone of hundreds of meters was evacuated around the perimeter of the security services building, the police announced, citing a “possible gas leak”. By late afternoon, access to the area was restored.

Some officers who arrived at the building “sense an odor upon arrival,” according to the police press release.

Authorities asked local residents to close their windows and witnesses said they smelled something like paint, according to Aftonbladet newspaper.

Swedish intelligence agencies warned this week of threats posed by state actors, mainly targeting Russia, China and Iran.