Threatening letters, unknown substances and at least 18 injured persons: In authorities in Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia suspicious mailings triggered firefighting missions on Monday. In several Saxon ministries as well as in the state parliament in Dresden letters arrived with a hitherto unknown substance.
In the building of the public prosecutor's office Arnsberg in the Sauerland there was on Monday afternoon a large employment, because 18 persons complained about respiratory irritation and coughing. The victims would be taken care of, said a fire department spokesman. According to police, the courthouse was cleared and the area cordoned off. The fire department had been alerted because a dangerous substance leaked, they said. Chemical experts have been requested for investigations, said the spokesman in Arnsberg.
Same letters discovered in Saxony
In the affected post offices of the Saxon authorities similar shipments were opened, from each of which a powdery substance is drizzled, said the State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA). The letters also threatened to harm the health of those who came in contact with the powder. Police and fire departments "in appropriate protective equipment" provided the suspicious substance, said a spokesman for the operation. A concrete danger could at first be ruled out. A result of the substance analysis was still in the early evening.
The criminal police investigations including further forensic investigations of the consignments as well as investigations to the sender and its motivation took over the police extremism and terrorism defense center of the land criminal investigation office in Saxonia.
