US forces in Iraq find cyanide with suspected al-Qaida link

(Washington-AP) Feb. 7, 2004 - Officials say US forces in Iraq found seven pounds of cyanide during a raid last month on a Baghdad house.
     
And the US officials say they believe at least one of the occupants of the house is connected to an al-Qaida operative.
     
The cyanide salt was in either one or several small bricks, and officials believe it was to have been used in an attack on US or allied interests.
     
Cyanide is extremely toxic and can be used as a chemical weapon, although it's unclear if the cyanide was in a form that could be used that way easily.
     
A defense official says bomb-making materials were also found in the house during the January 23rd raid.
     
It's unclear if anyone was captured.

Posted 7:55pm by Eva Pilgrim