Medical Protective Clothing Theft At Paris Hospital Triggers Probe, Raises Concerns About Biological, Chemical Terror Attack

French police are currently investigating the theft of medical protective equipment from a children's hospital in Paris. The theft of a limited number of protective equipment has further strengthened the fear of chemical or biological terror attacks among the country's government officials.

While the intention of the theft is still not clear, it is being linked to the possibility of another terror strike after the deadly Nov. 13 Paris attacks. Reports on the disappearance of the protective equipment emerged on Nov. 18, according to Reuters. A report was filed on Nov. 19 at a local police station.

Just after the Nov. 13 attacks, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced that the country could be at the risk of chemical or biological warfare, considering its fight against the Islamic State group militants. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced Sunday that the country had taken all possible measures to avoid this kind of warfare.

The Mirror reported that apart from a dozen suits intended to protect its users from contagious infections, the theft has resulted in loss of antibacterial masks, gloves and polyethylene boots from the city's Necker Pediatric Hospital.

The equipment was stored in a locked room accessible to a large number of members who used a code to unlock it. Security in and around the hospital has been tightened since the day the theft occurred.

Following the theft, the capital's state-run water company has restricted access to the key sites to just important staff members. A three-month long state of emergency has been declared in the area.