Ricin poisons six in Amsterdam

Six employees of logistics company GLS had to be hospitalized when they became unwell after breathing in vapor emanating from a broken package Wednesday morning, AT5 reports.

At the GLS building on the Gyroscoopweg in the Westelijk Havengebied harbor area, six people became suddenly unwell. The emergency services were called at around 7 a.m. Initially, 11 people were reported affected by the substance.

It appeared that a bottle of ricin - a poisonous substance manufactured from nuts which is used a s a chemical weapon - had broken inside a package, and the liquid was leaking out.

The six employees had breathed in the vapor that came free, and had to be hospitalized. They were mildly injured. A special unit from the Osdorp barracks came in to stabilize and remove the substance.