Suspicious package found at Indonesian Embassy in Australia, Hazmat team called in

Two Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) teams of the Canberra fire brigade respond to a suspicious package at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Australia, on May 4, 2015. -- PHOTO: EPA
Two Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) teams of the Canberra fire brigade respond to a suspicious package at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Australia, on May 4, 2015. -- PHOTO: EPA

A suspicious package with white powder found at the Indonesian Embassy in Australia's capital of Canberra led to a Hazmat team being called in, according to media reports.

The police were called about the incident at the embassy, in Yarralumla in Canberra's south, at 10.50am local time, reported ABC News.

The package contained white powder, and was found in the embassy's mail room, said Detective Sergeant Dave Turner. It was sent for analysis, he ABC News quoted him as saying, adding: "Full analysis takes a couple of hours."

Several hazmat vans were stationed outside the embassy during the incident. The road outside the embassy was closed to traffic, and drivers advised to use alternative routes, ABC News reported.

"The suspicious package has been contained and will now be taken to ACT Pathology at Canberra Hospital for analysis. Roads are now open," police said in a statement, quoted by ABC News.

An earlier statement from the police said the area was cordoned off "as a standard safety precaution", ABC News reported.

The incident comes days after Australian drug traffickers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in Indonesia for their crimes, but the police could not say whether the package was linked to the executions.

"The motive for the package will form part of our investigation," Detective Sergeant Turner said was quoted as saying by ABC News. "We don't have any information on that at the moment."

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