Hungarian consulate in Istanbul is latest to get suspicious powder through post

Members of the Turkey's disaster management agency (AFAD) carry bags from the Canadian Consulate in Istanbul on Oct 24, 2014. The Hungarian consulate in Istanbul on Monday became the sixth diplomatic mission in Turkey's largest city to report re
Members of the Turkey's disaster management agency (AFAD) carry bags from the Canadian Consulate in Istanbul on Oct 24, 2014. The Hungarian consulate in Istanbul on Monday became the sixth diplomatic mission in Turkey's largest city to report receiving a suspicious powder through the post, the governor's office said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

ISTANBUL (AFP) - The Hungarian consulate in Istanbul on Monday became the sixth diplomatic mission in Turkey's largest city to report receiving a suspicious powder through the post, the governor's office said.

The consulates of Belgium, Canada, Germany, France and the United States - all countries involved in the international coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) extremists - had reported receiving the yellow powder on Friday.

The Hungarian consulate informed the authorities Monday that it had also received the powder and experts from Turkey's disaster management agency AFAD were sent to the scene, the Istanbul authorities said in a statement.

The statement said it appeared the powder sent to the Hungarian consulate was likely to have been sent in the same batch as the others, given that the consulate had been closed for the last two working days.

At least 24 people - five foreigners and 19 Turks - working at the consulates who came into contact with the powder were kept in hospital over the weekend as a precautionary measure.

The Turkish authorities are expected to announce later Monday the results of tests on the powder.

Hungary announced in August it would send ammunition to Iraq to help the Iraqi authorities fight against ISIS militants, who have seized large parts of the country.

The scare in Istanbul came amid mounting concerns about the growing national security threat to Turkey and Western states posed by the militants, who are trying to seize the town of Kobane close to Turkey's border with Syria.

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