Black Friday is Now! Don’t miss out on up to 60% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Suspect packages sent to Scottish political offices before election

Published 27/04/2017, 18:55
Suspect packages sent to Scottish political offices before election

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Three suspicious packages containing "white powder type substances" were sent to political offices between April 25 and 26, the Scottish parliament said in a statement.

Separately, on Thursday two suspicious packages were also intercepted at police offices. One, in Glasgow was still being investigated. The second, in Fife, was not a threat, Police Scotland said in a statement.

It was not clear if the political security incidents earlier in the week were related and officials at Police Scotland were not available to comment.

The Scottish parliament said packages were sent to an elected official, a political party headquarters and a local council building. Police were investigating and further advice has been issued to elected representatives across Scotland, the devolved assembly said.

On Tuesday, police had said they were investigating a suspicious package sent to the East Dunbartonshire office of lawmaker John Nicolson, who represents the Scottish National Party at Britain's parliament in London.

Local media reported one package was sent to the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh and another to a local council building in the Scottish town of Forfar.

Officials at the SNP declined to comment.

Separately, Labour Party lawmaker Peter Hain, who represents an area in Wales, confirmed via text to Reuters a report in the Guardian newspaper that police were investigating a letter sent to him containing white powder. Police were not immediately available to comment.

Britain will hold a national election on June 8, and earlier on Thursday police said a man carrying knives had been arrested not far from Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office.

Last month, a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, before stabbing to death a police officer in the grounds of parliament .

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.