Suspicious packages sent to consulates and embassies in Australia: who was targeted?
Alerts issued at up to 22 foreign diplomatic headquarters in Melbourne and Canberra
Deliveries of suspicious packages containing white powder have sparked a series of major emergency responses at consulates and embassies in Melbourne and Canberra.
Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade said it had been called to “a number of incidents” across the city on Wednesday afternoon, reports the BBC. Regional newspaper The Age says that the South Korean, Indian and New Zealand consulates were all evacuated after receiving packages, while the US foreign diplomatic headquarters was placed in lockdown.
Suspicious packages were also delivered to the British, Spanish, Greek, Taiwanese and Turkish consulates, the paper adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to unconfirmed reports, packages could have been sent to up to 22 locations - including the Italian, Thai, Swiss and Egyptian embassies - across Melbourne and in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the region including and surrounding Australian capital Canberra. The affected embassies in the ACT have not been identified.
The deliveries sparked an emergency “hazardous material” response, and specialist firefighters were seen carrying large bags emblazoned with the words “danger asbestos” as they left the South Korean and Indian consulates, The Guardian reports.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) tweeted that the packages “are being examined by attending emergency services” and that “the circumstances are being investigated”.
Victoria Police issued a separate statement saying that it was aware of “a number of consulate offices in Melbourne today receiving suspicious packages”.
“At this time we believe the matter is targeted and not impacting the general community,” the statement continued.
The Brisbane Times reports that initial suspicions over the packages were raised by the misspelling of “consulate” on an envelope delivered to the Pakistani consulate in Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Quiz of The Week: 4 - 10 May
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Expressionists: a 'rousing' exhibition at the Tate Modern
The Week Recommends Show mixes 'ferociously glowing masterpieces' from Kandinsky with less well-known artwork
By The Week UK Published
-
The Mighty Five: a guide to Utah's mesmerizing national parks
The Week Recommends From Arches to Zion, you should wander them all
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Mouse keeps tidying up man's shed
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Dead' woman nearly suffocated in morgue bag
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published