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Unknown White Powder Sent To U.N. Missions, Consulate
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 10, 2009
Modified Nov 10, 2009
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photo by Jonathan Weiss
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 10, 2009
Modified Nov 10, 2009
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Hazmat teams descended on two United Nations missions and a consulate in midtown Manhattan last evening, after they received envelopes containing an unknown white powder. Decontamination tents were set up outside the French Mission at 245 East 47th, the Austrian Mission at 600 Third Avenue, and Uzbekistan Consulate at 801 Second AVenue.
According to WCBS 2, "Dozens of people were exposed to whatever was in those letters. More than 30 people were waiting to be brought downstairs and decontaminated in showers set up by the FDNY at the French Mission." And MyFoxNY reports, "At the Uzbekistan mission, on 2nd Avenue, two people were decontaminated as a precaution. Eight people at the Austrian mission, on 3rd Avenue, were decontaminated."
The preliminary tests on the substance sent to the Uzbekistan mission reportedly came back negative for anthrax or other dangerous substances. And the envelopes all had Dallas postmarks. One resident in the area told WCBS 2, "When you live in this neighborhood you assume a little bit of risk. Hey, you live in New York you assume a little bit of risk, but living in this neighborhood you know there's the UN around, a lot of embassies, a lot of consulates, missions, so you assume a little bit of risk. Hopefully, they do their job and everything is okay. It was a pretty good response if you ask me."
Update, 8:30 a.m.: The NYPD believes it was an elaborate hoax.
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hazmat
midtown
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united nations
white powder
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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