UK consulate in Melbourne targeted as ‘suspicious packages’ sent to diplomatic buildings in Australian city

Police investigating after embassies and consulates across city receive ‘hazardous material’ bags

Emergency services outside the building housing the consulates of India and France in Melbourne on Tuesday (AP)

A British consulate is among several diplomatic offices to be targeted by a series of “suspicious packages” delivered in Australia.

Local media reported similar parcels had caused a number of consulates and embassies in Melbourne, including those of the United States, New Zealand, Germany, India and New Zealand, to be evacuated on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade in Melbourne sent units to deal with reports of “hazardous material”, according to the Vic Emergency website.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the British consulate in the city received one of the packages.

“We are liaising closely with the Australian Federal Police and the local authorities regarding the situation,” a spokesman for the department added.

A New Zealand official told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the consulate received an envelope with small plastic bags that appeared to contain concrete and asbestos, with “asbestos” written on one of the bags.

The Age newspaper reported that one firefighter was also seen outside the South Korean consulate carrying a large plastic bag with the word “asbestos” written on it.

A spokeswoman for the service said: “We are assisting the Australian Federal Police right now with a number of incidents across Melbourne.”

Pictures posted on social media showed cordons outside the Indian and South Korean consulates, both on St Kilda Road in the south of the city.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said: “Police and emergency services have responded to suspicious packages delivered to embassies in Melbourne today.

“The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances surrounding these incidents are being investigated.”

The AFP added that suspicious packages were also sent to embassies and consulates in the Australian capital Canberra.

“As this matter is subject to further inquiries, it is not appropriate to provide further information that may impact on the investigation,” the spokeswoman added.

Additional reporting by agencies