The Israeli Defense Forces found 12 liters of a highly dangerous chemical agent in the Ramallah compound of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, according to a report in the Hebrew daily Ma'ariv.
The report was translated by Independent Media Review and Analysis.
The poison was identified as bromine, a volatile liquid, of brownish-red color. It is dangerous if inhaled even at very low concentrations of one per million. Lower concentrations of the chemical are used in the production of flammable material, disinfectants and in the pharmaceutical industry.
A small quantity of bromine, according to the report, could be used to make an explosive device that would be highly lethal in an enclosed area – such as a shopping mall.
The IDF suspects Iraq as the inspiration behind the PA's interest in such a dangerous chemical agent and the stockpiling of quantities representing a significant arsenal.
The containers were buried in a sandbox, apparently due to their fragility and in light of the dangers associated with their content, says the report.
The IDF Technology Unit removed the tubes from the location.
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