April 9, 2004

A bomb containing a toxic chloride gas was thrown into a visitors' area in a Sofia traffic police office, the Interior Ministry said.

At least one person was said to be in a life-threatening condition and four others were critically ill.

Police said a suspect was held two hours after the attack, but there was no word on possible motive.

The attack occurred at 1000 (0700GMT) when the office was crowded with people.

We have measured for poisonous emissions in the air...and there is no further danger to the public — Civil defence official

The health ministry identified the chemical as chloropicrin, a pesticide that has also been used in the past as a military-grade tear gas.

It can be extremely dangerous when inhaled in large quantities.

Officials later said the gas content in the air had dropped back to safe levels.

"We have measured for poisonous emissions in the air...and there is no further danger to the public," a civil defence official said.

Deadly gas

Inhaling significant quantities of chloropicrin damages the breathing system, and can cause vomiting, the lungs to fill with fluid and eventually to death.

In smaller quantities it causes skin and eye irritation.

It is used mainly as a pesticide and to combat fungi in soil, but can also be used in treating timber. It was used in chemical weapons in World War I by both Germany and the Allies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3613979.stm