Asia/South Asia
5 years ago

‘Suspicious packages’ found at Australia consulates

A fire fighter is seen carrying hazardous material bags into the South Korean consulate in Melbourne, Australia, January 9, 2019 - AAP Image/James Ross via REUTERS
A fire fighter is seen carrying hazardous material bags into the South Korean consulate in Melbourne, Australia, January 9, 2019 - AAP Image/James Ross via REUTERS

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Australian authorities are investigating suspicious packages found at foreign consulates in Canberra and Melbourne, police have confirmed.

Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade said it had been called to "a number of incidents" across the city.

UK and Swiss consulates are among several reportedly affected, reports the BBC.

"The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances are being investigated," the Australian Federal Police said.

Local media reported that emergency workers had been seen at consulates belonging to India, South Korea, New Zealand, Greece and Italy.

A British High Commission official said: "We are liaising closely with the [federal police] and the local authorities.

"All our staff are safe and accounted for."

The Swiss consulate in Melbourne was sent a small envelope containing a substance labelled "asbestos", said Peter Erb, the husband of honorary consul Manuela Erb.

"We immediately put the envelope in another bag and rang the emergency service and they came and took it away," he told the BBC.

"We do know now that the item was not likely a bio-hazard."

On Monday, suspicious parcels containing a white substance were sent to Argentina's consulate in Sydney. They were later found to be non-toxic.

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