Terror alert at America's Cup
From the International Desk
Published 2/25/2003 4:09 AM
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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Letters have been sent to at
least three foreign diplomatic missions in New Zealand, threatening
terrorist acts should Iraq be attacked, police said Tuesday.
Authorities said letters meant for the U.S. Embassy and the British
and Australian high commissions in Wellington were intercepted late
last week at the Auckland Mail Center. All of the letters contained
powdery substances and tests on the contents of one letter indicated
the substance was cyanide.
Police said the letters made reference to the America's Cup, currently
being contested in New Zealand, and security at that event has been
increased. Authorities asked that spectators and participants at the
America's Cup races continue their regular activities, but to report
anything out of the ordinary to police.
Security for foreign diplomats was also being reviewed, New Zealand
media reported.
The New Zealand Herald, which also received a copy of the letter,
reported that the country's counter-terrorism commission would not
make the contents of the letter public to keep the chances of copy-cat
threats being made.
Jon White, the assistant commission for counter-terrorism, told the
newspaper: "At this stage we can't rule out the possibility that the
letter may have been written by the same author who sent a threatening
letter accompanied by cyanide to the American Embassy at the time of
the New Zealand Golf Open."
