Dozens of people have suffered as a result of gas spraying in stores of St. Petersburg trade network "Maxidom". Office of Prosecutor informed that the matter concerns mercaptan gas. This is a compound of carbon, hydrogen and sulfur. It has sharp unpleasant smell and is used for aromatization of natural gas. Representative of General Interior Affairs Administration of St. Petersburg and Leningradskaya oblast informed that mercaptan "has no serious consequences". Devices with gas-containing ampoules were placed in 3 stores and operated in 2 stores - on Moscow and Leninsky prospects. In the store on Bogatyrsky prospect security managed to reveal the poisoning gas. On Moscow prospect device operated before opening of the store, because workers of sanitarian service have touched it. On Leninsky prospect the device worked after opening of the store. About 60 people addressed to doctors with complaints on asphyxia, cough and poor state of health. 16 of them were hospitalized. "The main version of the incident is unfair competitiveness. Shortly before the incident direction of "Maxidom" applied to police because of letters, threatening to spoil New Year trade", - said representative of police. "Maxidom" is a trading network of goods for house construction and maintenance.