Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Suspicious yellow powder sent to Canadian, Belgian, German, U.S. consulates in Istanbul

Published 10/24/2014, 10:55 AM
Updated 10/24/2014, 10:55 AM
© Reuters A member of Turkey's disaster management agency disinfects the garden of the German consulate in Istanbul

© Reuters A member of Turkey's disaster management agency disinfects the garden of the German consulate in Istanbul

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Packets of an unidentified yellow powder were sent to the Canadian, U.S., Belgian and German consulates in Istanbul on Friday, prompting security alerts following two militant attacks in Canada this week.

One Canadian consulate employee came directly into contact with the suspicious package and six others had indirect exposure, Turkey's disaster management agency AFAD said in a statement. Nine people were hospitalized as a precaution.

Teams decontaminated the Canadian and Belgium consulates and were working on cleaning the German mission, AFAD spokesman Dogan Eskinat said.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman confirmed the Consulate General in Istanbul also received an envelope containing a "suspicious" powder.

"(It) was dealt with according to security protocols. The consulate is operating normally," the spokesman said.

There was no immediate word on what the powder was. Samples were sent to laboratories in the capital Ankara for tests.

Other consulates and embassies were reviewing their security arrangements.

Canadian consulates and embassies overseas have been on heightened alert this week after two attacks in Canada.

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, a Canadian citizen and convert to Islam, shot and killed a soldier stationed at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday before running into the nearby parliament buildings. He was killed by guards in a flurry of gunfire.

Two days earlier, Martin Rouleau, a 25-year-old convert to Islam, drove over two Canadian soldiers, killing one, in Quebec, police said. He also was shot dead by security officers.

© Reuters. Police officers stand guard outside the German Consulate in Istanbul

(This story adds U.S. in headline

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay in Istanbul and Jonny Hogg in Ankara, Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.