Three treated after embassy anthrax scare

A number of staff at the British embassy in Dublin have been taken to hospital for examination after the discovery of a suspect…

A number of staff at the British embassy in Dublin have been taken to hospital for examination after the discovery of a suspect package today.

It is understood three people were taken from the British embassy to hospital as a precautionary measure. The package appeared to have been tampered with and re-wrapped, according to Dublin Fire Brigade. It has been taken away by the Army for examination.

Meanwhile, anthrax scares in Portmarnock, Co Dublin and at the Munster Expressnewspaper in Waterford are being investigated.

The newspaper offices were evacuated after a letter was discovered to contain powder after it was opened.

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Emergency services attended and three people were treated with antibiotics and put through decontamination procedures. The letter appears to have been sent from Ireland.

The paper succeeded in getting its midweek edition on the streets today and says its weekend edition will be available on Friday as usual.

Meanwhile, the Army and the Dublin Fire Brigade De-contamination Unit attended the scene at the embassy in Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge after a package thought to contain a powder was found.

The scares comes after the An Post mail centre in Athlone closed briefly this morning after an anthrax scare. There were also scares in Tullow, Co Carlow, Fermoy, Co Cork and Dundrum in Dublin.

Further details of the examination in Portmarnock is not available at this time.

There have been almost 40 reported anthrax scares in the State in the last month.

The emergency services have advised anyone concerned about a substance should leave it where it is and call the emergency services.