‘Tartan terrorists' in phone warning to newspaper

The investigation into the toxic packages sent to Cherie Blair and to a Scottish politician by so-called ‘‘tartan terrorists’’ was launched after a message received by the News of the World newspaper on Friday, it emerged today.

A telephone caller to the newspaper’s Glasgow office told a reporter he was speaking for the ‘‘Scottish National Liberation Organisation’’.

The caller, according to the paper today, said: ‘‘On Sunday a total of 16 postal packages were sent from different locations in the Glasgow area.

‘‘Each package purported to contain a complimentary sample of an aromatherapy skin lotion. Each package also contained a professional-produced leaflet proclaiming the virtues of the new product.

‘‘In fact, the bottle contained 10ml of a sodium hydroxide solution blended with aromatic oil.

‘‘This solution is toxic and corrosive on contact with skin, eyes and body tissues. It is lethal by inhalation, and each bottle contained enough to ensure death by the shock effect of chemical burns.

‘‘The 16 targets were a range of figures within the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties, and other selected targets. Mrs Blair’s was sent directly to No 10 Downing Street.

‘‘Should the state attempt to deny that these attacks took place, we will repeat them using a different method of dispersal.

‘‘We have the technology to make weapons of mass destruction and we will use these as and when we see fit.’’