Johnson condemns “deeply disturbing” Syria chemical weapons attack

Foreign secretary Boris Johnson has called on the international community to urgently respond to the "deeply disturbing" chemical weapons attack carried out in Syria late on Saturday.

Early reports suggest that up to 70 people were killed in the attack, which took place on the contested town of Douma near Damascus, although the exact figure is yet to be confirmed.

The attack occurred almost exactly a year after a sarin attack on the village of Khan Sheikhoun, in the north of Syria.

Read more: The White House has warned Syria against another chemical weapons attack

Photos published by Reuters showed adults and children suffering from injuries which were consistent with the effects of exposure to an organophosphorus compound.

Syrian state news agency SANA responded by saying the rebel group in Douma was making "chemical attack fabrications in an exposed and failed attempt to obstruct advances by the Syrian Arab army."

Evidence points towards "another chemical attack by the regime"

But a statement from the EU said the evidence pointed towards "yet another chemical attack by the regime."

"Almost a year to the day of the horrific attacks in Khan Sheikhoun, it is a matter of grave concern that chemical weapons continue to be used, especially on civilians," a spokesperson stated.

"The European Union condemns in the strongest terms the use of chemical weapons and calls for an immediate response by the international community.

"We call on the supporters of the regime, Russia and Iran, to use their influence to prevent any further attack and ensure the cessation of hostilities and de-escalation of violence as per UNSC Resolution 2401. The protection of civilians must remain an absolute priority."

The foreign secretary said the attacks were "deeply disturbing" and called for an urgent investigation into the new allegations of chemical weapon use.

"It is truly horrific to think that many of the victims were reportedly families seeking refuge from airstrikes in underground shelters," he commented.

Johnson continued:

Despite Russias promise in 2013 to ensure Syria would abandon all of its chemical weapons, international investigators mandated by the UN Security Council have found the Asad regime responsible for using poison gas in at least four separate attacks since 2014. These latest reports must urgently be investigated and the international community must respond.

Investigators from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons looking into reports of chemical weapons use in Syria have our full support. Russia must not yet again try to obstruct these investigations.

Johnson went on to say that if the regime was responsible for the attacks, then it would serve as "another appalling example of the Asad regimes brutality and blatant disregard for both the Syrian people and its legal obligations not to use chemical weapons."

"We condemn the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere," he warned. "We are in close touch with our allies following these latest reports. Those responsible for the use of chemical weapons have lost all moral integrity and must be held to account."

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CityAM

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