MDMA warning after six children taken to hospital in Scotland

Police have issued a warning over MDMA after six 13-year-olds were taken to hospital.

The children became unwell at around 6.30pm on Saturday and were rushed to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Scotland, where they were kept overnight for observation.

Police in Ayrshire said they believed the teenagers, who all knew each other, may have ingested a type of MDMA pill with an owl logo.

Detective Inspector Fraser Normansell said: “Police were informed of six children who had been taken to Crosshouse Hospital after taking unwell.

“One line of enquiry is that they had taken a type of MDMA tablet, believed to be red, green or brown in colour, bearing an owl logo.

“We want to remind the public that any drug can be dangerous and that you are putting your health at risk if you do take anything unknown to you.

“Anyone who feels unwell, or knows anyone who appears unwell after taking these substances should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.”

According to National Records Scotland, ecstasy was implicated in, or potentially contributed to, 28 deaths in Scotland in 2016.

Meanwhile, cocaine was blamed for 123 deaths and opiates or opioids, including heroin and methadone, were implicated in 765 deaths.

Press Association contributed to this report