CNN airs ‘Al Qaeda tapes’ of chemical tests on dogs

‘‘Among the most frightening scenes in the collection of tapes are those of testing of a poison gas on three dogs,’’ CNN said. ‘‘The disturbing images show the dying moments of the defenseless, enclosed animals.’’

It quoted a senior Bush administration official involved in weapons issues as saying he was ‘‘very troubled’’ by the video, particularly as it related to chemical weapons.

The official told CNN the video of chemical tests on the dogs suggested ‘‘a very strong desire to acquire the capability to use such weapons against humans.’’

‘‘This tape is unquestionable documentation that (bin Laden) has some capability,’’ the official said. The tape showed ‘‘some level of sophistication, and indicates they were trying to get results.’’

One of the tapes shows several men wearing Afghan-style sandals rushing out of an enclosure where one of the dogs is penned. A white liquid that gives off a gas seeps in and the dog begins showing physical discomfort.

CNN said experts who were shown the tape had different theories as to what kind of chemical agent may have been used. ‘‘But there was agreement that whatever it was, it was a powerful agent,’’ the cable network said.

US forces who invaded Afghanistan last year to topple the then Taliban rulers and try to crush Al Qaeda seized documents and other evidence they said showed that bin Laden was trying to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. It is not known whether bin Laden survived the US Operation in Afghanistan.