Public alert on new cyanide threat

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Terrorist threats to water supplies and cinemas which were outlined in a letter sent to the New Zealand Herald are being taken seriously by police.

Counter-terrorism chief Assistant Commissioner Jon White said yesterday that although New Zealand's security level remained low the threats "can't be discounted as a hoax".

Police have been analysing the letter since it arrived at the Herald last week.

Today they are issuing a formal public alert about the threats, although they emphasise that people should continue to go about their normal business.

Water suppliers, main cinema groups and Government agencies were briefed yesterday.

Police believe the letter writer may be the same person who has sent four previous threatening letters, two of which contained cyanide.

The latest letter, received at the Herald last Tuesday, contained threats including poisoning water supplies with cyanide and using gas in a cinema.

It named noon on Friday, March 28, as the date a "demonstration of capability" would be made in Wellington and Auckland.

Mr White said that, while he did not want people to overreact, it was a concern that the author was extending threats to explosives and other chemicals, and also to wider New Zealand.

"While it is a matter for individual judgment, I strongly believe New Zealanders should continue with their normal everyday activities such as visiting entertainment venues," he said.

Police have released public health advice saying it would be technically difficult to introduce cyanide into water supplies through a tap, and releasing cyanide gas in public venues would require a technical device.

Cyanide is a deadly poison widely used here for killing possums and making jewellery. If digested or inhaled it can cause serious breathing problems, and death.

National Poisons Centre medical toxicologist Dr John Fountain said that although the threats might sound menacing it would be difficult to carry them out.

If the cyanide was placed in water it would be diluted and it would take a huge amount of gas to fill a cinema.

Mr White said cinemas would take steps such as monitoring what people took in, being vigilant about suspicious packages and looking at evacuation procedures. The cinema groups did not wish to comment last night.

Watercare spokesman Owen Gill said it had stringent security and had discussed the threat with the Auckland Medical Officer of Health and water retailers.

Mr White said that as March 28 approached the police would study events in Auckland and Wellington and talk to organisers.

The latest letter had similar characteristics to the letters sent last month to the US Embassy, British and Australian High Commissions, and the letter sent to the US Embassy last year when Tiger Woods was playing in the New Zealand Golf Open. The letter sent to the British High Commission and the Tiger Woods letter both contained cyanide.

Mr White said there was no conclusive evidence, but the similarities suggested the latest letter could have been written by the same author or someone known to the author.

The transcript of last week's letter and further details of the threats will not be released because of the possibility of copycat letters.

"Coverage is the oxygen of these threat-makers," Mr White said.

A copy of the letters sent in February was released only after CNN broadcast a copy it had received from the US Embassy.

That letter was sent by a group calling itself September 11 and claiming to possess 25kg of "weapon grade cyanide". But a poisons expert said while it was possible someone could collect that much cyanide, it could not be made into a weapon.

Mr White said the author of the letters was already considered a criminal because he or she had committed terrorist acts punishable by long prison terms.

The threats

The author of the letter to the Herald on March 4 threatens:

* To poison tap water in houses and motels with cyanide.

* To gas a cinema.

* To attack the interests of Britain, Australia and the US in New Zealand.

* To use explosives.

Key moments

* Noon on Friday, March 28, named as the day a "demonstration of capability" would be made in Wellington and Auckland.

* An attack on Iraq.

Hotlines

* Anyone with information about the letters should ring the police on 0800 THREAT or 0800 847 328 or email the confidential tip line at police

* In all cases of suspected cyanide poisoning phone 111 and ask for ambulance and medical help.