Papewaio
06-01-2005, 23:50
Death delivered in a poison letter - News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15482171-2,00.html)
WHEN the Indonesian Ambassador's secretary opened a letter addressed to her boss yesterday, a potentially deadly powder spilled to the floor.
The letter had arrived on her desk shortly after 10.30am, addressed by name to Indonesian Ambassador Imron Cotan.
The secretary immediately called the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to raise the alarm, and the four-storey compound in Yarralumla was soon sealed off with the 50 staff inside.
It is not clear if the secretary inhaled any of the substance.
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Fire, ambulance and police officers were placed on a hazardous materials alert.
Experts in isolation suits took samples, which were sent for analysis.
Inside the embassy, staff were told to keep calm.
Shortly afterwards, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer told Parliament tests had proved positive for a "biological agent".
"Further analysis of the powder has tested positive as a biological agent so further testing will need to be carried out to find out what that substance actually is," he said.
Hours later, Prime Minister John Howard said it was an act of "murderous criminality".
Crap, what a stupid nasty low life thing to do.
WHEN the Indonesian Ambassador's secretary opened a letter addressed to her boss yesterday, a potentially deadly powder spilled to the floor.
The letter had arrived on her desk shortly after 10.30am, addressed by name to Indonesian Ambassador Imron Cotan.
The secretary immediately called the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to raise the alarm, and the four-storey compound in Yarralumla was soon sealed off with the 50 staff inside.
It is not clear if the secretary inhaled any of the substance.
Advertisement:
Fire, ambulance and police officers were placed on a hazardous materials alert.
Experts in isolation suits took samples, which were sent for analysis.
Inside the embassy, staff were told to keep calm.
Shortly afterwards, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer told Parliament tests had proved positive for a "biological agent".
"Further analysis of the powder has tested positive as a biological agent so further testing will need to be carried out to find out what that substance actually is," he said.
Hours later, Prime Minister John Howard said it was an act of "murderous criminality".
Crap, what a stupid nasty low life thing to do.