Officials: West Babylon High School Students Were Sickened By Mace

WEST BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The chemical that left dozens of people sick Tuesday at West Babylon High School was Mace sprayed by two students, officials said.

The school reopened Wednesday, a day after the strong chemical odor forced an emergency evacuation.

Thirty-five people, a mix of students and faculty, were taken to the hospital, but officials said most were released by the end of the afternoon. About two dozen other students were treated at the scene.

Schools Superintendent Yiendhy Farrelly said in a message on Facebook that police deemed the building safe.

"We have been advised that there is no threat to the well-being of our students and staff," she wrote.

Farrelly stressed that the incident was not connected to Tuesday's terror threats directed at schools in New York City and Los Angeles, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.

Students were dismissed at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday due to the fumes.

West Babylon fire Chief Peter McArdle said emergency crews were called after people reported having difficulty breathing. He said some of the patients complained of burning in the back of their throats.

McArdle said most of those affected felt their symptoms in a hallway.

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