Assad's poison gas enclosure: a secret laboratory after the other

Von WOM

Damascus, Syria - the people in the Jaramana district in Damascus always felt that something strange was going on in the nearby state security facility. The government site, which was massively secured during the civil war, was not accessible to anyone, except for the regime's troops.

discovery of a secret laboratory

as Islamist rebels in December the Syrian dictator bashar " Al-Assad rushed, the residents hurried to visit the place themselves. Inside, they found what looked like a secret laboratory, filled with potentially toxic substances that could be used to produce illegal drugs or chemical weapons, as well as a workshop for explosives.

chemical dangers and their review

Last month, accompanied by the Syrian civil protection organization, also known as Weißhelme and witness how the team's chemical detectors repeatedly raised the alarm and turned to the existence of toxic materials.

The pictures and videos that CNN passed on from the facility to independent experts indicated a chemical laboratory, probably more for research purposes than for production. The white helmets and the experts pointed out that further examinations were necessary to find out exactly what happened in this place. This also includes the special evaluation of samples and a thorough inspection of the site as well as the documents found there.

allegations against the Assad regime

The Assad regime was accused by the United States and other countries to be involved in illegal drug production and trading. A video has appeared since the case of the regime that has supposed evidence for a Production of the highly addictive drug Captagon shows.

experts and international surveillance groups have long pointed out that the former government started chemical agents against its own population and, despite the signing of a contract that prohibits chemical weapons, operated. The United Nations reported in 2013 of " clear and convincing provisions " for the use of the annoyance sarin in Syria.

a deeply staggered secret

Farouq Habib, deputy managing director of the Weißhelme, told CNN that he had the feeling that the facility was a research laboratory in connection with the chemical weapons programs of the Assad regime. However, his organization could only make a final statement after further specialized tests.

"The regime claimed many years ago that it disposed of all chemical weapons, but we knew that it continued to work with it," he said, while leafing through documents that were found at the location.

The dangers for the local population

The discovery of the laboratory and the potential dangers for the civilian population led to the white helmets requested. A local druze leader had raised the alarm after a pharmacist pointed out the possibly toxic materials that were stored in the facility.

Like many other government buildings, this location was also looted after the withdrawal of the regime troops. Windows were smashed, electrical lines and all valuable ones were stolen. The Druze leader said that his main concern was the risk that is caused by the facility for the residents, especially if it is further endangered.

There are concerns that the alleged stocks of dangerous chemical weapons that are considered illegal under international law could get into the wrong hands. For this reason, the white helmets work hectically to find and secure these locations.

a dangerous order

The members of the white helmets were dressed in full protective equipment when they were called on the spot. With a broken glass that covered the bottom of the building, every step had to be carefully overturned, since a small crack could be fatal in the protective suit.

The white helmets were trained to carry out such dangerous missions. Many of them have already reacted to chemical attacks against civilians; Often at great personal risk, since the group has been systematically pursued by the Assad regime in the past.

They worked late into the night without taking a break, although their alarms signaled high contaminating values ​​in the moist cellar, which was affected by cockroaches. They ended their work well after midnight when most chemicals were brought to a safe place to prevent further contamination and endangerment of the local population.

The next day, they bury the materials on a remote, remote place in the desert, where they would stay until they can be disposed of safely. This order was completed, but there was no rest for the team.

Habib emphasized that his team was determined to continue looking for locations such as that in Jaramana. "These substances, if we do not secure and dispose of them soon, could get into the wrong hands and be used elsewhere against the Syrian people or others. This is a global threat to humanity," he said. "We should all be united to put an end."