An envelope containing a suspicious powder was discovered on Friday at the premises of the European Commission in Brussels, on the floor where President Ursula von der Leyen works, firefighters said.
The discovery led to the evacuation of part of the Berlaymont building at midday and to a large deployment of emergency vehicles, noted an AFP journalist.
The Commission services were quickly reassuring.
"
The 13th floor (where the European official of German nationality works, editor's note) has been evacuated, but everyone is fine
," Eric Mamer, spokesman for the European executive, told the press.
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The suspicious powder was to be analyzed by the Civil Protection, a detachment of which went on the spot, said the relief.
According to Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels firefighters contacted by AFP, "
a member of staff (of the Commission) who handled the envelope had to be placed in solitary confinement
" awaiting the results of this analysis.
But this person has "
no medical symptoms,
" he said.
The incident occurred as a meeting of European energy ministers on the energy crisis caused by the war led by Russia in Ukraine.
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