‘Asbestos’ in parcels

Man in court over delivery of suspicious mail to embassies

MAIL deliveries allegedly containing asbestos sparked the evacuation and closure of embassies and consulates in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.

Victorian man Savas Avan, 49, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday, charged with sending 38 dangerous articles in the post.

He was arrested on Wednesday night at his Shepparton home, hours after consulates in Melbourne were forced into lockdown having received suspicious packages in the mail.

A prosecutor told court the deliveries contained asbestos and Avan did not apply for bail.

Federal and Victorian police allege the asbestos was sourced from his Shepparton home.

“Police have so far recovered 29 of these packages, with forensic testing to be undertaken on them to determine the exact composition of the material in them,” the federal and state police said in a joint statement.

“Police have identified all intended recipients and have put processes in place to recover the outstanding packages. There is no ongoing threat to the general public.”

India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Korea, Switzerland and the US consulates were among a number across Melbourne and Canberra targeted with suspicious packages on Wednesday, sparking an emergency “hazardous material” response and some evacuations.

It came two days after Sydney’s Argentinian consulate was partially evacuated following reports of a suspicious substance.

But at least two consulates in Melbourne did not contact authorities about packages until they received an email from the Australian government. The Greek Consulate General on St Kilda Rd and the Pakistani consulate in Albert Park both received suspect packages, on Friday and Wednesday morning respectively, but did not contact authorities straight away.