Report: Germany confirms mustard gas use by Islamic State in Iraq
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 8 September 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Report: Germany confirms mustard gas use by Islamic State in Iraq, 8 September 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/561d041e15.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 08, 2015
Germany's foreign intelligence agency BND has collected evidence of mustard gas use by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, a report in the German daily Bild said on September 7.
The newspaper said BND intelligence agents collected blood samples from Kurds who were injured in clashes with IS.
It quoted BND chief Gerhard Schindler as saying that the agency has "information that IS used mustard gas in northern Iraq."
Schindler said that the mustard gas either came from old Iraqi stockpiles produced under Saddam Hussein's rule or was manufactured by IS after it seized the University of Mosul.
Schindler's comments were confirmed to the Associated Press by a senior German intelligence official.
U.S. Defense Department spokeswoman Elissa Smith said that "while we will not comment on intelligence or operational matters, let us be clear: Any use by any party ... of a chemical as a weapon of any kind is an abhorrent act.
"Given the alleged behavior of [IS] and other such groups in the region, any such flagrant disregard for international standards and norms is reprehensible," Smith said.
Based on reporting by Bild and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
