CBRN

Toxic chemicals and radioactive thorium found in Prague house

Hazardous materials discovered in a basement in Prague, Czech Republic. Prague Fire Brigade

A number of toxic and radioactive chemicals were discovered in a basement of a house in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday 25 April.

Mercury, cyanide, arsenic, radioactive thorium and picric acid, which was once used as an explosive in military ordnance, were found during the cleanup of the basement on Nad Studánkou Street.

Firefighters and the police were called to respond to the discovery. Radio Prague International reported that a specialised chemical unit removed the dangerous substances for disposal, while a bomb disposal expert handled the explosives for controlled detonation.

There was, however, no danger to residents as the quantities of the discovered substances were small. The operation concluded around 15:45, according to Prague fire brigade spokesperson Vojtěch Rotschedl.

In a post on X, the Prague fire brigade wrote that the picric acid would be safely detonated by the pyrotechnic service, while the other substances would be transported for "eco-friendly disposal" by a chemical laboratory in Kamenice.

The Czech Republic's State Office for Nuclear Safety was also informed of the incident, and the building’s inner courtyard was closed off during the operation.

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Danish Armed Forces, civil emergency services conduct CBRN exercise

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Demolition of US chemical weapons destruction plant begins

Georgian firefighters, first responders conduct CBRN exercise at chemical plant