Melbourne Nightclub Evacuated After Unknown Substance Sprayed On Dance Floor

A Melbourne nightclub was evacuated on Sunday morning after an unknown substance was sprayed on the dance floor. 

As The Age reports, the substance, believed to be capsicum spray, forced security guards to open the doors of the Perserverance Hotel in Fitzroy and evacuate the venue. 

Police and ambulance were called to the Brunswick Street venue at around 1am and paramedics treated a number of partygoers who were having trouble breathing. 

One of the venue's patrons, Jason Tolley, claimed to witness a brawl break out between two men just moments before the substance was sprayed. 

"Somebody was ejected and there was a fight… between a group of blokes who had taken their shirts off," Tolley said.

"There were police everywhere by the end of the night and paramedics were handing out water to everybody." 

Police have since determined that the substance was sprayed by a woman who was being harassed by two men. 

"I'm assuming the girl who did it felt genuinely scared," Senior Sergeant Steve Mills said.

"It's important to note that those sorts of things are illegal, although I sympathise with her for using it."