Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 38
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
• Synthesized in 1812
• First used in WWI against
the British at Ypres,
Belgium (December 1915)
Phosgene: History
Module One – Toxic Industrial Gases as Terrorist Threats
38
Phosgene was first synthesized in 1812. During WWI, phosgene was extensively used in
gas warfare. Its first wartime use was in Dec 1915 when the Germans shelled British
troops with 88 tons of phosgene. This one attack resulted in ~1100 casualties and 120
deaths.
The top picture depicts buried gas cylinders used in attacks. The bottom picture is of a
British machine gun crew in CG (referring to phosgene) helmets (site reported as Battle
of Somme, July 1916, the bloodiest day of the war for the British Army).
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