the individuals who were responsible for this barbaric crime. Anyone who uses chemical weapons needs to be fully aware that the international community does not tolerate the use of these banned weapons, and that those who are responsible will be held accountable. We believe the United Nations Security Council has a special obligation to ensure that this happens.

The OPCW‑UN Joint Investigative Mechanism will now begin to look into who was responsible for this event. Should this investigation conclude – as all evidence seems to suggest – that the Syrian regime is to blame for the use of sarin in Khan Sheikhoun, then this would be a new, flagrant and most severe violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, of which Syria is a member.

The Federal Government wishes to thank the OPCW for its thorough and professional Investigation.