Police launch major inquiry after cyanide letter threat

A threatening letter containing cyanide has been received by a foreign embassy in New Zealand.

Police said today the letter threatened action being taken if Iraq was attacked and made references to the America's Cup.

It was one of three posted to the United States Embassy and the British and Australian High Commissions. The letters were intercepted at the Auckland Mail Centre on Friday.

A copy of the letter was also sent to the New Zealand Herald in Auckland.

Police said all three letters were accompanied by powder substances. One of the letters contained a cystalline substance which testing confirmed as cyanide.

Police did not say which diplomatic agency received this letter.

The Assistant Commissioner for Counter-Terrorism, Jon White, said the police did not intend to make the specific contents of the letter public, in order to lessen the risk of copy-cat action.

"At this stage we can't rule out the possibility that the letter may have been written by the same author who sent a threatening letter accomapnied by cyanide to the American Embassy at the time of the New Zealand Golf Open,"Mr White said.

As was the case last year, police encouraged the public to maintain their vigilance, particularly around public transport and consumption of pre-purchased food.

Spectators and participants in the America's Cup should continue with their normal business but be observant about anything which might seem out of the ordinary and worthy of reporting to the police.

Mr White said security around the cup event was recently reviewed and security moved to a higher setting.

"The current threat is within the approach the higher setting addresses. The situation and our response will be constantly monitored."

Security arrangements for British, US and Australian diplomatic representatives in New Zealand were under review, he said.

The Assistant Commissioner thanked the New Zealand Herald for taking an editorial decision not to publicise the letter it had received in today's paper.

This allowed officials to complete testing for cyanide before advising the public.

"I would encourage everyone to take a similarly measured approach to this issue. Terrorism feeds on rumour and speculation."

Mr White said the police would inform the public of any developments which might affect their safety but meantime it was just a matter of continuing to be vigilant.