WEAPONS inspectors have been delayed from examining the scene of an alleged chemical attack in Syria after a UN security team came under fire yesterday evening.

The UN team visited Douma to assess the area before the arrival of Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors who had been due to go in today.

However large crowds gathered when the UN team arrived at the first of two sites they were surveying and they decided to leave the area.

OPCW spokesman Ahmet Uzumcu explained that the team came under fire at the second site and that an explosive was detonated.

“This incident again highlights the highly volatile environment in which the fact-finding mission is having to work and the security risks our staff are facing,” he said.

The team returned to Damascus unharmed.

The two sites of the alleged chemical attack are currently under the control of the Russian military police, which was negotiated as part of the surrender deal with the jihadist Army of Islam group that had controlled Douma.

Britain, France and the US launched missile attacks on Saturday claiming that they had strong evidence the Syrian government had carried out a gas attack on its own citizens, killing at least 40 people.

However their case was dealt a heavy blow after British journalist Robert Fisk reported from the ground that nobody he had spoken to was aware of a gas attack.

A senior doctor told Mr Fisk that people seen in a widely circulated video were treated for hypoxia related to dust inhalation with no symptoms of a chemical attack.

No evidence has been made public to corroborate claims of the gas attack, with sources including Islamist groups and the pseudo-humanitarian organisation the White Helmets, funded by countries committed to regime change.

Yesterday, Syria’s permanent representative to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari told a stormy meeting in New York that the “crowning glory” of Britain, France and the US was supporting terrorist groups by launching its attack with the participation of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel “following the defeat of their terrorist tools in eastern Ghouta.”

He called on the UN security council to fulfil its mandate and act against the occupation of Syria by the United States, Israel and Turkey.

It is not clear when OPCW inspectors will be able to carry out their investigations.