Hong Kong bomb disposal staff called after letters with powder mailed to seven companies
Powder later revealed to be flour in matter tied to debt collection, source says
Bomb disposal officers were deployed after seven letters containing powder – later confirmed to be flour – were sent to seven companies in a Hong Kong office block on Friday, sparking a mild scare.
An initial investigation indicated the matter related to a debt collection and targeted a male employee at one of the seven companies, according to a police source.
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Emergency crews were called in after a letter was sent to a company located in a tower of the Convention and Exhibition Centre on Harbour Road in Wan Chai at about 11.30am.
Yellow powder was found in the letter, and employees exited the office before emergency personnel arrived.
Bomb disposal officers wearing protective suits were sent to examine the substance, which was later found to be flour, according to the source.
He said police subsequently found that another six letters had been mailed to the offices of six other companies in the same office block but on different floors.
The source noted that each letter contained paper on which a picture of a Chinese man was printed. The paper said the man was targeted in a debt collection, and he was accused of being a con man.
Police said no one was injured or complained of feeling unwell in the incident.
Detectives from Wan Chai police district were handling the case. No arrests have been made.
