The Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday breaking up al-Qaeda cell that was working on producing toxic gases to use them in future attacks against different targets in Iraq and abroad.

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday breaking up al-Qaeda cell that was working on producing toxic gases to use them in future attacks against different targets in Iraq and abroad.

Ministry spokesman, Mohamad al-Askari said that the group of five people built two facilities to produce sarin and mustard gas, using instructions from another Al-Qaeda group.

The cell was preparing to carry out attacks against Iraqi targets, especially against the pilgrims to the religious shrines, and to smuggle the toxins to neighboring countries and also to Europe and to North America.

According to Iraqi Security sources, the arrest of the cell members was in context of cooperation between the Iraqi security forces and several foreign intelligence services.

Last month the United Nations  accused the armed groups fighting the Syrian government of using the sarin nerve gas against the civilians and the Syrian troops.