Nerve gas found in U.N., evacuation underway
ABC News is reporting on their website that 6-8 vials of nerve gas were found in a desk while cleaning out the offices at a U.N. office building near Headquarters. Federal authorities were evacuating the building and the White House had been notified at 10am. A U.N. spokesperson said a statement would be released shortly.
According to ABC News, the gas is phosgene and was being used by weapons inspectors in Iraq to calibrate air sampling instruments. The gas was believed to have been found in Iraq and manufactured prior to 1991. Authorities say that the gas was supposed to have been destroyed, but if properly sealed does not pose a threat.