Brussels mosque 'suspicious powder': Envelopes believed to contain 'flour'

Brussels has been on a high state of alert following the Paris attacks on 13 November

Emergency services outside the Grand Mosque in Brussels (Rex)

A “mysterious powder” that sparked a serious alert in a central Brussels mosque after fears it could be anthrax has been revealed as nothing more sinister than flour.

Several envelopes of white powder were discovered in Brussels Grand Mosque in Cinquantenaire Park on Thursday, resulting in 11 people being taken to hospital and decontaminated. They are not believed to have suffered any symptoms.

“We took every preventative measure in case it turned out to be anthrax, but as a precaution. There is absolutely no danger to anyone,” a fire fighter on the scene told La Libre.

A Bussels-Ixelles police spokesperson confirmed initial laboratory findings that indicated the substance inside the envelopes was harmless and most likely flour.

The mosque, Brussels’ oldest, is located near to the European Parliament building. The scare prompted a significant emergency services response as the city remains on high alert following the Paris attacks.

The packages were reportedly found by the mosque’s Imam, according to a worshipper.

“This is not good. With everything that is happening in Brussels at the moment, I’m afraid to leave the house,” he told AFP.

Since the Paris attacks on 13 November, the Belgian city has been placed on a state of high alert. A number of the Paris attackers are believed to be Belgian citizens.