A Syrian woman receives treatment at a hospital in the regime controlled Aleppo on Nov 24, 2018. Official Syrian media accused the armed opposition of launching an attack with "toxic gas" on the northern city, but a leading rebel alliance has denied any involvement.（PHOTO / AFP）

BERLIN - Lawyers representing victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria say they have filed criminal complaints with Germany’s federal public prosecutor against Syrian officials they blame for the deaths of hundreds of civilians in rebel-held areas.

The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad denies it has used chemical weapons against its own civilians

Germany, which is home to 600,000 Syrians, has “universal jurisdiction” laws that allow it to prosecute people for crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.

READ MORE: US, UK & France one against Syria chemical attacks

The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad denies it has used chemical weapons against its own civilians.

A spokesman for the Public Prosecutor General (GBA) was not immediately available to confirm the complaint had been submitted.

ALSO READ: Security Council deadlocks again on Syria chemical attacks

“Prosecutors may ultimately determine they have sufficient evidence to issue arrest warrants for members of the Assad regime,” said Steve Kostas, a lawyer with the Open Society Foundation’s Justice Initiative, one of three organisations behind the complaints.