GERMANY/U.S.A. - 23 Dec 99

For Immediate Release - December 23, 1999

From: Washington D.C. FBI National Press Office

Threats of Parcel Bombs From Germany?

The U.S. Government received unsubstantiated information that individuals may be planning to send bombs in small parcels to addresses in the United States. The information received indicates that the parcels would be sent from Frankfurt, Germany. Out of an abundance of caution, the public is being promptly alerted to this information. The public should be cautious with parcels originating from or bearing Frankfurt, Germany, postal markings or stamps when the sender is unknown or unfamiliar to the recipient. Questionable packages should not be handled and local authorities should be notified. All appropriate federal, state and local authorities and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigators have been notified of this information.

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UK On Alert As Well

On Friday, British authorities said that they had reason to believe that Britons might also be targeted by "mail bomb threats" similar to those involving the United States. British postal authorities are reportedly on alert, looking for unusual packages coming from Frankfort, Germany. UK authorities said that no "unusual packages" had been discovered so far.

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IF YOU ARE SUSPICIOUS OF A MAILING AND ARE UNABLE TO VERIFY THE CONTENTS WITH THE ADDRESSEE OR SENDER:

1. Do not open the article.

2. Isolate the mailing and evacuate the immediate area.

3. Do not put in water or a confined space such as a desk drawer or filing cabinet.

4. If possible, open windows in the immediate area to assist in venting potential explosive gases.

5. If you have ANY reason to believe a letter or parcel is suspicious, do not take a chance or worry about possible embarrassment if the item turns out to be innocent. Instead, immediately contact your local police department and/or the U.S. Postal Inspector for professional assistance.

For a graphic representing some bomb threat indicators from the U.S. Postal Service, please click here.

BOMBS BY MAIL, BY U.S. POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE; NOTICE # 71, MARCH 1990

01/03/96 - 01:00CST: Wave of Letter Bombs Strikes Washington Newspaper, Kansas Prison

01/13/97 - Series of ENN Real-Time Reports - Letter bombs at the U.N. in New York City

Some materials contained herein or referenced are from public domain articles provided by the U.S. Postal Service and Postal Inspectors. ERRI/EmergencyNet News would like to thank them for their assistance in keeping the public informed of potential threats involving mail and parcels.   

© EmergencyNet News Service, 1999. All rights reserved. Redistribution or republication without permission is prohibited.

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