Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 21
During the 1991 United States–led Desert Storm operation, 39 Iraqi SCUD missiles
landed in Israel. These attacks caused over 1000 casualties (including some traumatic
injuries from explosives, shrapnel, and structural damage). However, one half of the
casualties were diagnosed with acute psychologic reactions or acute anxiety.
Also, because it was unknown if chemical weapons were part of the missiles’ payload, it
appeared that people anticipated toxic chemicals and began to treat themselves without
verification of chemical exposure or related symptoms. In one report, twenty-seven
percent of the casualties were due to inappropriate autoinjection of atropine because of
fear that a chemical nerve agent attack had occurred.
Another 40 patients were injured while rushing to a sealed room to avoid chemical
exposure. Some deaths occurred from improper use of gas masks leading to suffocation
(including at least one child), while others succumbed to myocardial infarctions. Only 2
deaths were due to missile trauma.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 447