Suspicious Envelope, Police & Fire Respond

[Updated: At 5pm police, fire and ambulance attended the airport after a report of "suspicious substance" in an envelope that originated overseas. As a safety precaution, one airport staffer was taken to the hospital and three others were quarantined.

At 10pm the police said the envelope was forensically examined and no traces of any toxic substance were found, and a police investigation has commenced into a possible mischievous or malicious disruptive act]

At around 5pm this afternoon, the Police and Fire Service responded to a report of an “unknown substance” found by staff at the LF Wade Airport. The police said that in the “abundance of caution” one of those individuals has been taken to the hospital and three other members of staff have been quarantined.

At 5.30pm, there were at least three fire vehicles on scene, and multiple police and fire personnel. Some of the airport staff could be seen standing in the airport’s parking lot, and the ambulance arrived on scene at approximately 5.40pm.

Slideshow of police, fire, and the ambulance on the scene. Click right hand to move to next photo:

Police Media Manager Dwayne Caines said: “A few minutes after 5pm, police responded to a report of unknown substance that was found by a member of staff with airport operations.

“As a result one of those individuals has been taken to the hospital and three other members of staff have been quarantined. This is being done in the abundance of caution until more information can be gathered about the foreign substance.”

Mr Caines noted that three other first responders have also been put into a safe area, and said: “The parking lot adjacent to the arrivals hall has been cordoned off and has become a command center for operations.“

“The Bermuda Police Service and Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service are fully trained for scenarios such as this, and the scene is being managed.”

Flights have not been affected at this point, and Mr Caines said he wishes to discourage persons from coming down to the airport to look, as it is a very active scene and said he will provide more information to the media as able.

Update 6.36pm: Two more fire vehicles arrived, and personnel can be seen putting on Hazmat suits.

Update 6.47pm: Assistant Commissioner Martin Weekes said airport staff contacted them after having concerns about an envelope. He said envelope was taken away, and the police are treating it “as a suspicious package at this time.”

Analysts will conduct tests, and determine whether it is a dangerous material. He said a female staff member went to the hospital went to get checked out, which he called a routine procedure, and said there “are no major injuries at this time.”

Update 7.20pm: The police crime scene tape has been removed, and the area appears to be back open to the general public. Most the fire vehicles have left the area, and there are a few police officers remaining.

Update 8.14pm: Audio above swapped for video, additional photos added to slideshow above.

Update 10.09pm: Police spokesperson Dwayne Caines said the envelope was forensically examined and “no traces of any toxic or other substance was found in the envelope or the contents which originated overseas.”

A police investigation has commenced into “what appears to be a mischievous or possibly malicious disruptive act by persons unknown.”

Mr Caines full statement follows below:

Please be advised that following a call to the LFWIA Emergency services attended to a report of a suspicious envelope that had been delivered by regular mail.

The envelope was forensically examined and no traces of any toxic or other substance was found in the envelope or the contents which originated overseas.

No injuries were caused to any staff at the airport however one staff member was taken to KEMH out of an abundance of caution. Two family members who escorted the staff member to the hospital were checked and released soon after.

There was no danger to the traveling public or other airport staff and airport operations were not disrupted. Incoming and outgoing flights were not affected.

An investigation has commenced into what appears to be a mischievous or possibly malicious disruptive act by persons unknown. Anyone with any knowledge is asked to contact Detective Sergeant B.T. Smith of the Eastern Criminal Investigation Unit.

#Airport #AirportSecurity #Evacuations #Offbeat #SuspiciousPackages

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