Australian Police Examining Suspicious Packages Left at Foreign Consulates

Australian Police Examining Suspicious Packages Left at Foreign Consulates

"The packages are being examined by attending emergency services," an Australian Federal Police spokeswoman said. "The circumstances surrounding these incidents are being investigated."

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Jan 10, 2019

Australian authorities are investigating after suspicious packages were discovered at multiple foreign consulates and embassies in Melbourne and Canberra on Wednesday.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corp., footage showed emergency service workers at the U.S., Greek, French, Italian, Indian, New Zealand, Pakistani, Spanish, South Korean and Swiss consulates in Melbourne. They were also at an incident at the South Melbourne building were the Consulate General of Turkey is based.

A New Zealand official told the ABC that their consulate received an envelope, inside of which were small plastic bags with the word “asbestos” written on the outside. The bags were filled with what appeared to be concrete and asbestos. A police officer was seen wearing a face mask inside the New Zealand consulate.

A spokesman for the U.S. Melbourne consulate told ABC it had also received a suspicious package.

"We handled the package according to our standard procedures and in close coordination with local authorities — the Melbourne Fire Brigade and the Australian Federal Police — who are investigating the incident," he said.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said they were aware of the rash of suspicious packages being delivered.

"The packages are being examined by attending emergency services," an AFP spokeswoman said. "The circumstances surrounding these incidents are being investigated."

"At this time we believe the matter is targeted and not impacting the general community," Victoria Police said in a statement. Victoria is the state in which Melbourne is located.

These incidents followed an incident Monday in which the Argentinian consulate in Sydny was sent three bags containing fiberglass and asbestos.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.