Suspicious package sent to embassies in Malaysia

The British, US, Australian, French and Russian embassies in Malaysia today received suspicious packages by mail that created a minor security scare, but were deemed to be hoaxes, a day after six other foreign missions received similar items.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the scare “sends a warning signal” for south-east Asia to boost vigilance following the latest terrorist attacks on Indonesia’s Bali island, but stressed that Malaysia remains “one of the safest countries for foreign missions”.

“It may be innocent, but you cannot take chances,” Syed Hamid said.

Police, bomb disposal squads and hazardous materials experts were rushed to the five embassies today after they reported receiving large envelopes with messages warning of retaliation for perceived injustices against the Muslim world, said Abdul Aziz ulat, the chief of Kuala Lumpur police criminal investigation.

The packages also contained a compact disc and a liquid, oil-like substance, he said.

They were deemed hoaxes, as were similar packages delivered yesterday at the diplomatic missions of Japan, Germany, Canada, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, he said.

“We believe this has been a scare tactic to create attention,” Abdul Aziz said.

Only the Japanese Embassy was evacuated in yesterday’s scare, and none of the five were evacuated today, he said.

US Embassy spokeswoman Kathryn Taylor described the situation as “now all clear.”

Following yesterday’s incidents, the embassy was “on the look out, and rapidly intercepted and isolated the package,” she said.

Yesterday, the drama unfolded over five hours as the six embassies called police, one after another. The Japanese Embassy was the first to raise the alarm, informing its staff over the public address system to leave the building.

Police have increased security for embassies and tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur following Saturday’s bomb attacks that killed 22 people in Bali.