Better equipment needed to test substance found in envelope
Jun 16, 2008 - 05:27 PM
PICKERING -- Three people remain in quarantine at Pickering City Hall after an unknown substance was discovered in a letter mailed to the City.
The remaining staff have been sent home as officials try and determine what was in the envelope. Around noon Monday, clerks were opening parking ticket mail when a powdery substance flew out of one. The deputy clerk re-sealed it immediately, said Pickering Chief Administrative Officer Tom Quinn.
The building was cleared about 1:30 p.m. after Durham police, emergency medical services and fire services on the scene recommended it be evacuated and closed until the ministry of health could identify the substance.
Mr. Quinn said it could be hours before the substance is identified as there wasn’t enough of it in the envelope for the equipment at the scene.
Team-1 Environmental Services has been on site testing the substance for protein, the presence of which indicates it may be anthrax. Another vehicle with the capability of testing the powder has been called to the scene.
In the meantime, Pickering has cancelled its council meeting scheduled for tonight.
City Hall is expected to re-open Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., pending ministry of health toxicology results.
Recommend :
Latest News
Police kill man after he stabs woman to death, injures children
OSHAWA -- A birthday party in a south Oshawa townhouse turned violent when a man stabbed a woman to death and slashed at two young children, police said.Both of the children,...
Total Hockey's price included McFarlane's servicesCLARINGTON -- The $225,000 paid for the Total Hockey collection included three years of service from Peter Puck creator Brian McFarlane, including use of his time and contacts...
Major snowstorm possible late Sunday, early MondayDURHAM -- A weather system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico could bring a blast of winter to southern Ontario and possibly up to 20 centimetres of snowfall depending on the track...
New director for police services boardDURHAM -- A long-time civil servant with an extensive background in justice and policing issues has been hired as the new executive director of Durham's police services ...
Orr what a nightOSHAWA -- The cheers that bounced off the walls of the General Motors Centre last night were as loud as they were deserving.One of the greatest players in the history of ...
Ajax Pickering Board of Trade sees opportunity for success storiesAJAX-PICKERING -- The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade identified positive steps being considered by the Federal Government as plans for the 2009 budget were discussed in Finance...
Creating jobs and helping healthPICKERING -- Fifty-three, high-value jobs coming to a local pharmaceutical company will help lead the world in the knowledge economy of the 21st century, Ontario's Premier ...
Region has template for growthDURHAM -- The Region now has a plan on how to accommodate 373,000 new residents slated to move to Durham in the next 25 years. And with input from the public, it will be up ...
Man stabbed in robbery attemptOSHAWA -- A man sustained a stab wound to his neck in what police are describing as a robbery attempt in downtown Oshawa Tuesday. The 18-year-old victim told cops he was with ...
Murder message loud and clear: witnessWHITBY -- The words "Kill Frank Lenti" were never uttered, but a police agent got the message that he was being dispatched to murder a Hells Angels enemy, a jury has...