At Least 40 Injured in Toxic Gas Attack on Bulgarian Police Station

VOA ^ | April 9, 2004 | Stefan Bos

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Bulgarian government officials say at least 40 people have been injured, some of them seriously, in a toxic gas attack on a police station in the capital, Sofia. The Bulgarian Interior Ministry says Sofia's central police office was packed with visitors Friday, when an unidentified man threw a bomb containing a toxic chloride gas into the crowd.

Police immediately evacuated the building, and dozens of people were hospitalized. At least one person was said to be in very serious condition, and four others were listed as critically ill.

The Health Ministry has identified the chemical as a chlorine-based pesticide that is said to have been used in the past as a military-grade tear gas. It was also used in chemical weapons during World War I by both Germany and the Allies. Experts say it can be extremely dangerous when inhaled in large quantities, causing acute lung inflammation. In smaller quantities it causes skin and eye irritation.

Police have arrested one suspect, although there is no word on a possible motive.

The incident has underscored concern in Bulgaria about possible terrorism because of its support for the U.S.-led military operations in Iraq.

Bulgaria has close to 500 troops serving in Iraq near the town of Karbala as part of an international force under Polish command. The area has been the scene of heavy fighting between coalition troops and a local militia this week.

At least five Bulgarian soldiers have been killed and many more wounded since they arrived in Iraq last year.

The gas attack in Sofia occurred early Friday. Officials say, tests later in the day indicated there was no further danger to the public.

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This can happen anywhere else too.

That's why the way to fight terror is by the Bush doctrine of preemption.

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FYI: This contains updated info from earlier posted articles.

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More recent update:

SOFIA : An unidentified man injured 46 people, including a police sergeant whose life is in danger, when he threw a tear-gas grenade into a traffic police station in Sofia.

The 46 were all taken to hospital suffering from gas inhalation. Five people were in serious condition, in addition to the police sergeant, who is 44, hospital officials said Friday.

Police arrested a 50-year-old man who is suspected of being the attacker, the interior ministry said in a statement.


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/79460/1/.html

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And another update:

Life of Sofia Gas Attack Injured Policeman Out of Risk

The life of the Bulgarian sergeant who was most badly injured in today's gas attack in Sofia is out of risk.

The 44 year-old is already conscious, health officials announced. Yet another five people injured in the gas accident were hospitalised later in the day in that way the number of the intoxicated people went up to 49.

http://www.novinite.com/reply_forum.php?id=33228

[cardinal4]

Hmmm. Two updates and still no mention of Nationality..

[snooker]

well Spain how's it feel to pass off your troubles onto others?

[genefromjersey]

I did a look up on Bulgaria: They are reported to have a relatively small supply of Russian chemical weapons from the Soviet days.

I'm guessing this was a standard-issue Russian teargas grenade,intended for the "rough-edged" crowd control the Comrades used to (?) practice, and that some Bulgarian GI sold a batch of this stuff to one of the Muslims-a group Bulgaria has a pretty impressive supply of.