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Suspicious package at UN contained flour
A suspicious package leaking white powder was found near CNN's office at U.N. headquarters Friday, prompting officials to cordon off the area, but preliminary tests showed the substance appeared to be flour, U.N. officials said."On the basis of preliminary results, the substance does not appear to be harmful but some tests continue," U.N. associate spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday night. "It appears to flour." Nonetheless, more than two dozen U.N. staff members and journalists were decontaminated by New York City police experts as a precaution. Those affected had to wash their hands, face, hair and other exposed areas, seal their clothes in a bag and wear a special decontaminated suit to go home. Security officials also closed off the surrounding area and a corridor off the main lobby near a security office where the package was taken for tests. Hazardous material officials in yellow suits could be seen along the corridor with large orange plastic bags. The Associated Press office was initially closed off, but U.N. security guards later allowed reporters to leave. The package was found on the fourth floor of the building near the media area Friday afternoon, Haq said. He said U.N. security guards immediately informed the New York City Police Department and the Department of Environmental Protection, who dispatched teams to examine and test the package along with U.N. security experts, he said. Haq said it wasn't clear whether the package was in CNN's mailbox, in a mailbag on the floor nearby, or elsewhere in the corridor. Posted by: Pappy 2006-12-16 |
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