Embassy attack linked to Corby By Ian McPhedran and Nick Butterly June 02, 2005 From: <http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/?from=ni_story> Indonesian embassy / Reuters Lockdown ... a package is taken from the embassy. THE biological agent sent to the Indonesian embassy yesterday was mailed from Victoria, it emerged today, as translators decoded its accompanying race-hate note. Prime Minister John Howard was forced to apologise to Indonesia last night after the attack on its embassy - and the first terror attack on Australian soil. The package - which initial tests showed contained anthrax or one of four other lethal substances - was mailed to Indonesian Ambassador Imron Cotan. Mr Howard today said the note had been translated but details would not be released because it was was central to the polic investigation. Asked if the attack was related to the Corby case, Mr Howard said: "It's hard to escape the belief that there was a connection, let's put it that way." Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today it could be two days before the substance was accurately identified. A translation of what is understood to be an "anti-Indonesian rant" and race-hate message that came with the powder would be available soon, Mr Downer said. Mr Howard labelled the attack a "reckless act of indifference to human life" and confirmed the powder was "some kind of biological agent". Mr Cotan's secretary opened the envelope just after 10.30am yesterday and white powder spilled to the floor. Although there was initial belief the powder could have been fertiliser, Mr Howard said it tested positive for a "harmful" substance. He said it would be remarkable if the attack was not related to community anger over the 20-year sentence handed down to Corby by a Bali court for drug smuggling. "Quite apart from the murderous criminality of doing something like this ... it won't achieve the objective. It will have the opposite effect," Mr Howard said. "The advice I have is that the reference 'biological agent' does not mean it is benign. "But when you send a substance of this type, if the analysis proves correct, it's an act of reckless indifference to human life and I apologise on behalf of the Australian people to the Indonesian Embassy and to the Indonesian Government." Police and emergency services, including hazardous materials units, were called and the embassy was immediately locked down. The powder was tested at the ACT Government analytical laboratory and found to be an unknown but potentially dangerous biological agent. The embassy's staff were put through a precautionary decontamination process inside the compound. A police spokesman refused to say if a note was included with the powder. Police sources said the tests were a long way from complete, and that false readings were common. A statement from the Indonesian Government last night condemned and strongly deplored what it described as a "sorry and cowardly attempt of intimidation". It also welcomed the support and assistance of Australian officials. Mr Howard said the biological attack would not help Corby's plight and would make it harder "for the poor girl". "It will do great damage in the eyes of many Indonesian people to the relationship between our countries and it certainly won't help Schapelle Corby," he said. Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said no firm link with the Corby case had been established but the emergency was consistent with various threats made against Indonesian missions in Australia during her drug-smuggling trial. "This is a serious development," he said. "We will not succumb to such acts of intimidation, particularly such a cowardly one. We will not be intimidated in this way." Last night, staff from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra began leaving the building after they were decontaminated following the biological scare. About a dozen of the staff members left the building just before 10.30pm (AEST), and others followed shortly afterwards. As a precaution, the embassy will remain closed today to await the result of the analysis. This could take up to 48 hours, Supt Kilfoyle said last night. He said the group had shown no sign of fear during the ordeal, and were accepting of the assistance provided. He would not confirm the size of the envelope or who it was addressed to, and he said it was inappropriate to comment on security at the embassy. - with The Daily Telegraph, The Australian, and AAP [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn. 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