ABC News: Herlyn Kaur
)WA Police have arrested a 67-year-old man as part of their investigation into suspicious packages that forced the evacuation of two Labor electorate offices, just four days before the state election.
Staff members were evacuated from Premier Mark McGowan's Rockingham office yesterday afternoon after a man threw a foil-wrapped package into the building, prompting security fears.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene around 3:00pm, with streets in the area closed off to the public.
Mr McGowan said his staff had reported a man had come into the office and thrown a package under the security screen, towards them.
He said the "disturbing" incident left his staff shaken and urged people to remain calm in the lead up to the election this Saturday.
A similar incident was then reported at Labor MP Madeleine King's office in Rockingham, less than 3 kilometres from Mr McGowan's.
It is believed Ms King's staff received a package on Monday, but it was not opened until yesterday afternoon, at which point the office was also evacuated.
The ABC understands a man dropped the package to the front desk of Ms King's office.
ABC News: Andrew O'Connor
)That package is believed to have contained a foil-wrapped packet plus a letter talking about the sender being infected with "spores", and requesting that a sample of the spores be tested.
It is still not clear what substance was inside the packages.
No charges have been laid.
Substance not harmful, police say
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the two incidents were linked but the substance found inside the packages was not harmful.
He said the man was taken into custody yesterday and was undergoing health assessments.
"This man is being questioned over the two incidents," he told Perth radio station 6PR.
"One on Monday, where a package was left and a letter at the office of the federal member Madeleine King.
"At about 2:45pm [yesterday], we believe the same man attended the electorate office of Mr McGowan and a similar package was left there."
The Commissioner said the investigation was being taken "very seriously" but the public should not be worried.
"We believe it is just a person acting by himself," he said.
"We don't believe there is an issue for broader public concern."
