Threatening letters, one containing cyanide, have been sent to Australian, British and American diplomatic missions in New Zealand. The letters, apparently written by the same person, threatened unspecified action if Iraq was attacked, New Zealand police said today. The letters were intercepted at the Auckland mail centre on Friday and handed to police. The letter intercepted before it reached the Australian High Commission did not contain the poison, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokeswoman said. "There were mail items containing threatening letters and powdery substances recently sent to four addresses in Wellington including the (Australian) High Commission," the spokeswoman said.
Shades of the anthrax attacks in the wake of 9-11...
"NZ police have confirmed that other destinations were The New Zealand Herald, the UK and US missions." NZ Assistant Police Commissioner for Counter-terrorism, John White, declined to release the full text, but said the letters also had references to the America's Cup sailing challenge between Swiss and New Zealand yachts being held off Auckland. "The letter makes reference to an escalation in Iraq might be a trigger in terms of terrorist acts and the reference is made to America's Cup which of course is of considerable concern to us," he said.
Sammy, of course, has no involvement. And in this case, it's likely a sympathizer, rather than an Iraqi agent. I think. But Sammy's boyz have been pretty clumsy lately... |