NZ Police CommCens Alert 16:45 10-12-2007 Auckland City

Location of incident: Auckland City

Incident Type: Not anthrax........

MEDIA RELEASE -

The substance received in the post by two media organisations is not dangerous and is almost certainly a common garden fertiliser.

Police received calls from TVNZ and Greenstone Pictures at 9 and 9.30 respectively this morning, advising that staff had opened envelopes that contained white powder and a note saying it was anthrax.

The substance received by both organisations has since been tested by the New Zealand Defence Forces' Northern Improvised Explosive Device (IED) team and is definitely not dangerous and most likely to be powdered fertiliser.

Auckland City CIB are investigating the origins of the envelopes and have seized them and their contents. Both envelopes were postmarked at the same place on the same day, last Friday, December 7.

Acting Detective Sergeant Duncan Hall says there are some lines of inquiry to follow.

'There is some information on the envelopes that will be followed up, but for operational reasons I can't be more specific,' Mr Hall says.

ENDS

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