Suspicious powder and a threatening note sent to Western Bay District Council sparked an emergency response yesterday. Photo / John Borren
Suspicious powder and a threatening note sent to Western Bay District Council sparked an emergency response yesterday. Photo / John Borren
Red powder mailed to Western Bay District Council with a threatening note sparked an emergency response yesterday morning.
Two staff members were working at the information services section of the council's head office on Cameron Rd yesterday morning when they opened an envelope sent through the mail containing red powderand a threatening note.
Council spokesman Peter Hennessey said the staff called emergency services, left the envelope and were evacuated.
That part of the building was sealed off while the rest of the council building remained open. As a further precaution the area where the suspect piece of mail was opened was quarantined for 24 hours.
Mr Hennessey said the council expected the all clear or otherwise from agencies involved with analysing the material by early today.
Emergency services were called after a threatening note filled with suspicious powder was sent.
He said the affected staff members had received a medical assessment and went home for the remainder of the day. They were expected back at work today.
Mr Hennessey said in the 10 years he had been at the council, this was only the second time something like this had happened. As far as he was aware, there had been no prior warning about the incident.
Fire Service Bay of Plenty coast assistant area manager Graeme Easton said "very small" quantities of red powder had accompanied a threatening note opened by two council staff members. "We've got to treat it seriously."
A decontamination unit was set up at the rear of the council building to decontaminate the staff members and the office they were working in.
"The envelope will get sent away for testing, the police will be investigating that. There's no spillage or anything."
No one had any idea at that stage what the powder was.
The two staff members were checked out by St John after their decontamination shower.
Both were fine but were "tagged" by St John so, if any medical complications arose later, hospital staff would be aware of the powder incident.
A police spokeswoman said emergency services were made aware of the report shortly before 8.30am. She said the immediate priority was to ensure the safety of staff in the building.
"The item sent to the building will be seized for forensic analysis and an investigation will be carried out to try to establish who is responsible for sending it."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tauranga police on 07 577 4300. Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
