Mustard gas leaking into soil in Šumava National Park, MP says

MP Filip Turek claims that one of the toxic substances reported to be leaking into the soil in Šumava National Park is mustard gas, a dangerous chemical warfare agent.

Environment Minister Igor Červený told journalists on Monday that highly toxic substances, remnants from the activities of the former Czechoslovak army, are leaking into the soil in Šumava National Park, contaminating the surrounding area.

Červený also accused the former Environment Ministry officials of having known about the presence of the toxic substances for three years without taking action. His predecessor, Petr Hladík of the Christian Democrats, rejected the claim.

Turek confirmed Czech Radio’s information that the substances are leaking into the soil in the Dobrá Voda area near Prášily in the Klatovy region. The site was formerly a military area, which was closed in December 1991.

Further details are to be released at a press conference on Tuesday.