Nov 10, 2009 7:24 pm US/Eastern
Fifth Foreign Office Receives Powder-Filled Letter
United Kingdom Mission To The UN, German Consulate Latest To Receive Packages Containing White Powder
33 People Decontaminated Monday; Officials Believe Scare To Be A Hoax
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Three foreign consulates received envelopes filled with white powder in New York City on Nov. 9, 2009. A fourth received the same package, postmarked from Dallas, a day later.
CBS
There was another anthrax scare on Tuesday. Another letter -- containing white powder -- arrived at the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations.
The latest incident brings to five the number of letters that have now been found at foreign missions and consulates near the UN.
"There was a security concern and they wanted us to stay in our place and we couldn't leave the building, so we weren't really sure what was going on. It was quite frightening actually," UK Mission employee Melissa Mwanga said.
The terrifying letter campaign that first frightened New Yorkers just Monday night is eerily similar to the 2001 anthrax attacks.
The scene at the British Mission was identical to one that happened at 10 a.m., when the hazardous materials unit responded to a different consulate on the East Side.
A secretary working at the German Consulate opened an envelope containing a mysterious white powder, too.
Sources told CBS 2 HD the envelopes sent to those two consulates as well as the Uzbekistan Consulate, and French and Austrian missions, were identical business-size, sent from the same region of Texas.
But unlike the envelopes of eight years ago, the contents of which killed five people and infected 17 others, police said the most recent mailings did not contain the deadly anthrax spores.
"Anybody that thinks that it's a joke is making a very bad mistake. If we apprehend you you're going to face criminal charges," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
HAZMAT teams took no chances, decontaminating 33 people who worked at the French, Uzbekistan and Austrian buildings. The secretary at the German Consulate was also decontaminated.
"We caution all of the missions here at the United Nations to be careful with their mail and if they see any suspicious envelopes not to open them. If they do open them to segregate them and call police immediately," NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The white powder discovered at the German Consulate is currently being tested. If it, too, turns out to be a hoax, New Yorkers and visitors alike are not amused.
"It's really too bad that people think this is either funny or a way to get something that they want. It's just really a shame," said Mike Mazzocco, who was visiting from Chicago.
"Maybe mentally disturbed or just angry but, to send it without a note that would actually declare why you're doing it seems a bit unstable," added Steven Falkinstein of Metuchen, N.J.
The letter sent to the Uzbekistan Consulate included a note with the words "al qaida fbi in america" in block letters. Four of the letters were post-marked in Dallas. There was no word on the fifth.
CBS 2 HD's Sean Hennessey contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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