Powder filled envelope sends employee at Cdn consulate in Turkey to hospital

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Wikimedia Commons.

ISTANBUL, Turkey—Turkish authorities say an employee at the Canadian consulate in Istanbul is in hospital after opening a package filled with yellow powder.

A spokesman for the Turkish disaster and emergency management authority says the package was received around noon Friday.

Similar packages were also reported at the German and Belgian consulates.

The Turkish official says the Canadian office and the staff who came in contact with the package have been decontaminated.

The powder is now being analysed by Turkish health authorities.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Department says the Istanbul consulate was closed for the day and all its staff are safe and accounted for.