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Three people were hospitalised and more than 130 were forced to evacuate after a suspicious package was delivered to a military police station in Poland.
The alarm was raised on Wednesday when two soldiers and a military employee reported feeling unwell with irritation on their faces and hands after opening an envelope delivered to the base in the southern town of Nowa Dęba.
Specialist teams trained in dealing with hazardous materials were brought in to investigate the enclosed postcard but later ruled out the presence of any chemical, biological, and radiological agents.
Prosecutor Marcin Kozak revealed on Thursday that the card had been delivered to the deputy head of the station, who opened it to find a short note with the signature: “Greetings from the Golden One”
Poland has been on heightened alert in recent weeks with leaders anxious over the prospect of potential hybrid attacks from Russia, which has consistently denied orchestrating plots against Europe.
More than 130 people were evacuated from the military gendarmerie facility after the arrival of a suspicious package on Wednesday (file photo) (AFP/Getty)
“It was not impregnated with any organoleptic substance. No impregnation of any substance was detected. Nothing spilled from the envelope either,” Kozak told reporters. “Therefore, there was no reason to take any special precautions regarding this letter.”
The officer nevertheless felt a shortness of breath and was taken to hospital, before two more people reported a sore throat. Both were also taken to the health centre and given medical assistance, the prosecutor said.
Lt. Col. Dariusz Rozkosz, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Military Police, said on Wednesday that all three had been discharged from hospital with no signs of poisoning.
He said the package was of unknown origin and acknowledged lingering doubts around the contents. The military police department in Rzeszów was still investigating, he added.
Kozak said they would investigate whether the symptoms reported by the military personnel were actually related to the letter or merely coincidence.
A further four gendarmes were initially placed in isolation without any symptoms, while 133 people were evacuated from the adjacent building, Polskie Radio 24 reported.
A witness told the Polish Press Agency that the entrance to the emergency room had been blocked and those inside the hospital were unable to leave.
Lt. Col. Rozkosz told TVN24 that it was standard practice for the three people who came into contact with the shipment to be isolated and sent for tests.
He would not confirm whether the package arrived from Germany, as reported by local media.
Do you have a story? Contact james.reynolds@independent.co.uk
