Two adults and a child in Belfast have been treated with antibiotics as a precaution after they handled a parcel containing white powder, it was disclosed last night.
The parcel was sent to their house in the Falls Road in the west of the city on Tuesday morning. It is understood that two women and a 2 1/2-year-old child were in the house when the parcel from Canada arrived.
Sources said the occupier normally receives a letter on a regular basis from a religious order in Canada and was not suspicious until she opened it, around 12.40 p.m., and found white powder inside.
The women alerted the RUC and the ambulance service and fire brigade were also summoned. It is understood the women and child were "decontaminated" in the house by the fire brigade.
They were then taken to hospital where they were given antibiotics as a precaution. The Department of Health in Belfast said the powder has been sent to England for analysis. The results are expected within 24 hours.