Global chemical weapons watchdog says chlorine was used in Douma

The global chemical weapons watchdog said Friday it found "reasonable grounds" that chlorine was used as a weapon in a deadly attack on the Syrian town of Douma last year.

The determination was contained in a detailed report by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' fact finding mission that investigated the April 7, 2018 attack. Medical workers said at the time that the attack killed more than 40 people.

The mission's mandate does not include laying blame.

In a statement, the OPCW said the mission visited Douma, analysed samples taken from the scene and from people affected, interviewed witnesses and studied toxicological and ballistics analyses.

The investigators were delayed by several days from reaching the scene by security concerns, leading to fears that evidence could degrade or be cleaned up.

However, the data they eventually amassed and studied provided "reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon" took place, the OPCW said.

"This toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine. The toxic chemical was likely molecular chlorine."


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/03/02/global-chemical-weapons-watchdog-says-chlorine-used-douma/