Several vials of potentially dangerous chemicals have been found at a United Nations building in New York.
The material, said to include phosgene, is said to have been removed from Iraq during inspections of chemical facilities a decade ago.
The UN said the vials had been found by inspectors as they cleared out an office near the UN’s headquarters.
The material “could be potentially hazardous”, but did not pose any immediate risk, a UN spokeswoman said.
UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said the substances had been secured by experts at the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (Unmovic).
The office area had been screened, she said, and no toxic vapours were found.
Choking agent
The metal and glass vials, stored in a sealed plastic bag, were discovered in the process of emptying Unmovic’s office building in Manhattan.
“The only information we have of the contents of that bag is from an inventory of a 1996 inspection which indicates that one of the items may contain phosgene, an old generation chemical warfare agent,” Ms Okabe said.
The US authorities have been called in to assist with the safe removal of the material.
Phosgene, a yellow-green gas smelling of swimming pools or newly-mown hay, was widely used during World War I as a choking agent. The Russian military has also claimed that it has been used in Chechnya.
Unmovic’s inspectors were withdrawn from Iraq in March 2003 and in June this year the UN decided to end its mandate.
How can they keep track of what they're doing when they really have no idea of what they're supposed to be doing? And… I'm just wondering why it was taken to an office in the middle of NYC when it should have been taken to a proper lab somewhere, and when the airport "security" is making granny take off her shoes to get through the gate, how does a UN puke walk through with vials of this type ❓ Or did it come in at "airport-2" on a private craft? Of course, when the choice to explain the unexplainable includes stupid procedure, dumb mistake, or suspicious actions….. I'll usually pick suspicious actions. Especially since it's really difficult to find anything the UN has done that deserves full credit. 🙄
"Especially since it's really difficult to find anything the UN has done that deserves full credit."
No, that's not at all correct, here: "Choking agent"
See, the UN deserves full credit for being the world's "Choking Agent".
😆