Iraq phosgene nerve gas Found in UN Office in Manhattan

Just over 11 years ago in Iraq a U.N. weapons inspectors found a potentially hazardous chemical called phosgene which is a nerve gas, the problem was the inspectors mistakenly choose to store this phosgene at their U.N Office in midtown Manhattan.

This chemical substance or nerve gas was used back in World War I, it was only by chance that staff at the U.N noticed this as the phosgene had an inventory number and the officials had to check their records on the 24th August. Once the gas was discovered a team of hazardous materials experts from both the New York City police and also the FBI were sent to the U.N office in midtown Manhattan.

The following day the material had to be taken away to an Army facility in two steel drums. Staff in the U.N building had to be evacuated on the 6th floor while the area could be made safe. Marie Okabe, the deputy U.N spokeswoman said that there was no danger to any of the staff or public.

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