The offices of Israeli President Moshe Katsav were partially evacuated on Wednesday amid anthrax fears after an envelope containing suspect white powder arrived at the building, a presidential spokesman said. The letter was addressed to Katsav himself, Israeli public radio said, adding that the whole first floor of the building was evacuated. The presidential spokesman said that the letter was found in the archives department. The suspicious white powder -- which has become the hallmark of anthrax attacks and hoaxes around the world amid mounting fears of bio-terrorism -- was sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Workers in the presidential offices received instructions on dealing with suspect letters and parcels several days ago, officials said.
While there have been scores of anthrax scares in Israel in recent weeks, the incident at the presidential offices were the highest level target yet. Suspect envelopes, which proved to be hoaxes have also been found in the offices of left-wing deputies in the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, and in newspaper offices. Jerusalam's main postal sorting office was also closed for two days earlier this month and its several hundred employees sent home while a suspicious envelope, posted abroad, was tested and found to be harmless.
Bureau Report