The Hindu : Alert as Downing Street receives `toxic' mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 03, 2002

International

International

Alert as Downing Street receives `toxic' mail

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON MARCH 2. Political leaders across Britain have been told to be vigilant after a package containing a toxic substance was delivered at the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair's office in Downing Street. It was reported to be addressed to his wife, Cherie Blair.

A similar package was also sent to an unnamed Scottish MP, and 14 more were reported to be in the post headed apparently for various political leaders and organisations.

The banned Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA), which wants independence from England, claimed responsibility for the "toxic mail'' and the police clarified that the incident was in no way linked to the September 11 terrorist attacks or the anthrax scare.

The package, intercepted by Downing Street security, contained a bottle of what looked like eucalyptus oil but was actually found to be sodium hydroxide or caustic soda — a highly corrosive substance which can cause blindness and burns. A leaflet, accompanying the package, described it as a complimentary sample of a "aramotic skin lotion'' and gave directions for use. The contents of the parcel, received by the Scottish MP, were identical. Police issued an alert asking people, especially political parties and their staff, to report to them immediately if they received any suspicious mail.

While police were not saying when Downing Street received the parcel, the alert followed a telephone call to Scotland Yard from a man claiming to be from SNLA.

"He claimed that up to 16 packages had been distributed but at this stage police have no specific knowledge as to whom they have been sent,'' a spokesman said describing the modus operandi of the senders as "cynically dangerous''.

The two parcels, which have been intercepted, bore Glasgow postmarks. Last month, two MPs received suspicious packages but they turned out to be harmless.

Observers dismissed it as a "publicity stunt'' by SNLA which has been involved in a series of hoax letter-bombs and death threats to important people, including the royal family. It hit the headlines last year when its name was linked with letters, suspected to be laced with anthrax, sent to the University of St Andrews where Prince William is studying.

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