Chemical attack fears for Paris after protective suits stolen from hospital

THERE are new fears that Paris could be hit with a chemical attack after ebola-style protective suits were stolen from a code-locked room in a hospital.
The authority for the Paris public hospitals said 12 protective health outfits, used to ward against chemicals and viruses, were missing from a locked room in the city’s Necker hospital complex.
More than 30 protective boots, along with gloves and masks, were also taken.
Six water facilities went under armed guard after the alarm was raised and Paris Water president Célia Blauel confirmed water samples were being analysed, the Daily Mail reported.
Chlorine had been increased in the water to limit the risk of contamination.
“The chlorine level is controlled throughout the network. This allows us — if necessary — to precisely isolate the affected area without disrupting the entire network,” she said.
A formal complaint was filed on Thursday, the same day French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in the National Assembly “there may also be a risk of chemical and bacteriological weapons” used by attackers.
“We know and bear in mind that there is a risk of chemical or bacteriological weapons. The macabre imagination of the masterminds is limitless,” he said.
The city has been on alert since 130 people were killed in attacks on November 13.
The Paris public hospital authority said Sunday a “limited number” of suits were missing but wouldn’t confirm media reports saying a dozen hermetic protective overalls, three dozen pairs of special boots resistant to chemical agents, gloves and antibacterial masks have disappeared.
The missing clothing was stored with other materials in code-locked premises but many staff had access to the room to pick up ordinary supplies. Since the incident was discovered on Wednesday, security has been reinforced at the room.
British chemical expert John Large told the Mail that the UK was “very vulnerable” to an attack on its water systems.
He suggested terrorists may inject a toxin into water pipes or place a large quantity of toxic materials in a reservoir.
“IS’s chemical knowledge is improving fast and it would be a nightmare for the British Army or police to protect every reservoir or treatment works in this country,’ he said.
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Source www.news.com.au/world/europe/chemical-attack-fears-for-paris-after-protective-suits-stolen-from-hospital/news-story/6a7ffb74b81f9a2c636db2e1c93c8f70