Safety advice for MSPs following anthrax threat

Police confirm letter sent to Angus Council offices in Forfar did not contain hazardous materials

All MSPs have been issued with safety advice by police after “suspicious packages” were sent to a Scottish MP, a council building, the SNP’s headquarters and the police themselves.

There were also suspicious packages delivered to two police buildings yesterday

A letter, delivered to the Municipal Buildings in Forfar on Wednesday, stated that it contained anthrax spores along with the message “Get SNP out. Tories in”.

The mail handling advice has been issued to MSPs by Police Scotland after it emerged that the Forfar incident was one of three politically motivated packages containing white powder delivered this week.

A training session on mail handling and suspicious packages will be delivered to MSPs by Police Scotland as soon as possible.

It was confirmed yesterday that the letter delivered to the Angus Council offices on Castle Street did not contain hazardous materials.

SNP MP John Nicolson’s constituency office in Kirkintilloch received a suspicious package on Tuesday and police said the SNP’s headquarters has also received a package this week.

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson said emergency services were also responding to reports of suspicious packages delivered to the Scottish Police Federation building in Glasgow and to the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents based at the Scottish Police College, in Tulliallan, Fife, yesterday.

He said that at Tulliallan no dangerous or noxious substance was involved and emergency services had been stood down and that inquiries were continuing into the other incident.

The discovery of the letter at the council offices in Forfar shortly after 1.30pm on Wednesday prompted a section of Castle Street to be cordoned off while firefighters in chemical suits removed the letter for testing.

An ANGUSalive spokesman yesterday said staff were supported during and after the incident.

He said: “Staff are safe, well and have received the appropriate support both during and after yesterday’s incident, while assisting with the police investigation.

“As always, our staff followed established mail handling procedures, which are aligned to national security guidance. Given there is an ongoing police inquiry, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time.”

Conservative North East Scotland MSP Liam Kerr said such tactics had “no place in politics”.

He said: “We must allow the police and fire service time to carry out their investigation into this alarming incident.

“This type of behaviour has no place in politics.”

A Scottish and Fire Rescue Service spokesman said: “The incident was left in the hands of the police but the package did not present a hazmat (hazardous materials) threat.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Inquiries are continuing.”

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Police, fire and ambulance crews were dispatched to the Municipal Buildings in Forfar after the discovery of the letter which stated that it contained anthrax spores.