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Scottish Militant Group Mails Toxic Parcels To Blair
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16 disguised parcels have been mailed to UK officials |
LONDON, March 2 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Disguised packages found to contain fatal toxic substances have been sent to the official residence of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and to a Scottish member of parliament, London police force Scotland Yard said late Friday.
It added that as many as 16 disguised parcels, containing caustic soda, could have been sent to prominent British politicians, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
A man claiming to be from the Scottish National Liberation Army, a little known militant group seeking Scotland's independence, telephoned officers on Friday, claiming to have sent 16 packages, a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said that at least two parcels had been sent, one to Blair's residence Downing Street and one to an unnamed Scottish politician.
"The packages which arrived by post purported to contain eucalyptus oil but further analysis has revealed they contained a caustic substance," he added.
"Police stress that this incident is in no way linked to post-September 11th, or to Irish dissident terrorism. This is thought to be related to domestic political issues."
The Metropolitan Police received the anonymous warning call at about 1400 GMT on Friday, reported the BBC’s online news service. They are urging anyone who receives a package containing a liquid substance in suspicious circumstances to contact 999 immediately.
U.K. police have confirmed one of the packages was sent from the Glasgow Mail Center.
Caustic soda, otherwise known as sodium hydroxide, is an extremely corrosive liquid used to manufacture soaps and detergents and can cause blindness or permanent scarring if mistreated.
"The packages delivered so far have included a leaflet to indicate this is a complimentary (health) sample with directions for use. The directions for use are regarded by police as cynically dangerous," said the spokesman.
"Screening procedures revealed the substance (sent to Downing Street) and police were alerted," he added, pointing out that the package was not opened.
Blair is in Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to open later Saturday. His office refused to be drawn on the incident. "We never comment on security issues," said a spokesman. However, a government source said: "Nobody was ever in any danger from this."
In the past the SNLA has made death threats towards the Royal Family and is thought to be connected to hoax anthrax letters sent to St Andrews University where Prince William is studying, reported the BBC.
The Scottish National Liberation Army was formed in 1980 by Glasgow-born former soldier Adam Busby, 53, who declared war on "mass English immigration", said U.K. newspaper the Independent.
Busby moved to Ireland in 1983 and formed the breakaway Scottish Separatist Group, whose stated aims were to reverse English immigration into Scotland, restore Gaelic as the national language and create an independent Scottish republic.
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