Head of alleged Syrian chemical weapons facility dies in bombing
Source: The Guardian and Agencies
Head of alleged Syrian chemical weapons facility dies in bombing
Aziz Asber was director of facility western governments claim was a covert installation
Agencies
Sun 5 Aug 2018 15.31 BST
The head of a Syrian research facility that western countries say was part of a chemical weapons programme has been killed in a car bombing, the pro-government Syrian newspaper al-Watan has said.
Aziz Asber was the director of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre in Masyaf, near Hama, which western governments say was a covert government installation.
Asber died after an explosion targeted his car in the Hama countryside, al-Watan said in an online report.
The attack was claimed by a Syrian group affiliated with the Tahrir al-Sham rebels. It includes the group formerly known as the Nusra Front, which served as Al-Qaidas Syrian branch.
The Abu Amara Brigades released a statement on their Telegram channel saying they had planted explosive devices that detonated and killed Asber. The explosion occurred on Saturday night, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said.
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/05/head-of-alleged-syrian-chemical-weapons-facility-dies-in-bombing