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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| 'Suspicious packages' found at consulates in Australia | 'Suspicious packages' found at consulates in Australia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Australian police are investigating suspicious packages found at foreign consulates in Canberra and Melbourne. | Australian police are investigating suspicious packages found at foreign consulates in Canberra and Melbourne. |
| Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade said it had been called to "a number of incidents" across the city. | Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade said it had been called to "a number of incidents" across the city. |
| Consulates of the UK, Switzerland, US and Pakistan are among those affected, as well as reportedly several others. | Consulates of the UK, Switzerland, US and Pakistan are among those affected, as well as reportedly several others. |
| "The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances are being investigated," the Australian Federal Police said. | "The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances are being investigated," the Australian Federal Police said. |
| State police in Melbourne said the incidents were believed to be "targeted and not impacting the general community". | State police in Melbourne said the incidents were believed to be "targeted and not impacting the general community". |
| Emergency workers had been seen at consulates belonging to India, South Korea, New Zealand, Greece, Italy and France according to Australian broadcaster ABC News. | |
| A British High Commission official said: "We are liaising closely with the [federal police] and the local authorities. | 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." | "All our staff are safe and accounted for." |
| 1. New Zealand Consulate General; 2. Consulate General of Pakistan; 3. Honorary Consulate General of France; 4. Greek Consulate General; 5. Consulate General of Italy; 6. US Consulate General Melbourne; 7. Consulate of Switzerland | |
| 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. | 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 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." | "We do know now that the item was not likely a bio-hazard." |
| The US consulate in Melbourne had also notified authorities about a suspicious package, a spokesman told Reuters. | The US consulate in Melbourne had also notified authorities about a suspicious package, a spokesman told Reuters. |
| On Monday, suspicious parcels containing a white substance were sent to Argentina's consulate in Sydney. They were later found to be non-toxic. | On Monday, suspicious parcels containing a white substance were sent to Argentina's consulate in Sydney. They were later found to be non-toxic. |