Mystery package turned out to be good luck message in Urdu

Fullscale response for animal skin found wrapped in bag

A mystery package which washed ashore at Dundee, prompting a fullscale emergency response, was actually a good luck message, written in Urdu.

Firefighters and police rushed to the River Tay-side scene on the esplanade in front of Bridgeview Station Restaurant when a member of the public spotted the item.

Officers taped off an area covering five parking spaces and the section of pavement while investigating.

Vehicles were also stopped from entering the car park close to the road block, although there was no evacuation of the area.

A spokesman for the police in Dundee has now disclosed, after almost two weeks, that the package contained animal hide which had a message inside.

The spokesman said: “It was an animal skin wrapped in a bag, and inside the rolled-up hide was a note written in Urdu.

“We had it translated and apparently it’s some kind of good luck charm, whereby you write the note, wrap it in animal skin, cast it into the water and it brings you good luck.”

One witness at the riverside drama – which took place on Monday February 11 – said at the time: “It was quite exciting.

“The package was about the size of a binoculars case and when it was opened there were other cellophane wrapped packages inside.”

He added his immediate thought was it could be a drugs parcel which had been dumped in the water.

Firefighters stood down as soon as it was confirmed there was no danger to the public, and police began examining the package further.

One officer wearing rubber gloves removed the parcel.

A police spokeswoman at the time thanked the member of the public who reported the package while walking along the esplanade.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Police at the scene after the suspicious package was found.