Food warning as new cyanide letters sent to the Herald

Cyanide-laced letters were sent to the Herald yesterday, just hours before a threatened deadline in earlier letters to the newspaper and embassies of the three countries involved in the invasion of Iraq.

The latest letters contained threats to poison food and drink. They were posted to the Herald through the mail. The cyanide was found inside.

Police said the messages were similar in tone and style to the previous letters, which warned of a "demonstration of capability" by midday, March 28.

As the deadline approached yesterday, hoax calls kept police in Wellington busy and some Auckland businesses evacuated their offices as a precaution. The letters received over the past two months by the Herald, the United States Embassy and the British and Australian high commissions have been signed "September 11" and the sender claims to have 25kg of "weapons-grade" cyanide.

They threaten attacks unless the war in Iraq is halted.



Police have previously kept details of the letters from the public to prevent copycat offending.

The Food Safety Authority last night urged people to check whether food or drink has been tampered with.

The midday deadline passed without incident in Auckland. Some companies in buildings housing the British, American and Australian consulates evacuated staff as a precaution. Some cinemas had increased security.



Extra security was in place for last night's Bruce Springsteen concert at Western Springs.

In Wellington, police evacuated the central Reading Cinema complex after a man made a 111 call threatening terrorist action. A search failed to find anything.

- HERALD STAFF



Police have asked anyone who may have information about the letters to ring 0800 THREAT (0800 847328) or email them via their special cyanide threat web page.