A suspicious package found at the Indonesian embassy in Canberra is being analysed at a hospital pathology unit, following its discovery on Monday morning, ACT police said.
The results of the analysis are due by the close of business on Monday.
Police and emergency services, including a hazardous materials (Hazmat) team were deployed to the embassy in Yarralumla in Canberra’s inner south after the package was discovered at 10.45am eastern time.
An embassy spokesman said that the embassy had received a letter containing the suspicious substance, but that staff exposure had been minimised.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that there was white powder in the package.
UPDATE: #Yarralumla The sus package has been contained and will now be taken to ACT Pathology at Canberra Hospital for analysis. Roads open.
— ACT Policing (@ACTPolicing) May 4, 2015
“ACT policing is providing a coordinated response with ACT fire and rescue’s Hazmat and have cordoned the area as a standard safety precaution,” a statement by ACT Policing said.
The area surrounding the embassy was in lock down until just before 1pm, when police announced that they had contained the threat.
An embassy spokesman said that electricity had also been cut off in the building following the discovery of the package, but he was unsure if that was related to the scare.
The scare comes just days after two Australian drug smugglers, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were put to death in Indonesia. Australia recalled its ambassador to Indonesia as a result of the executions.
