Suspiscion of a biological terror incident must be reported to the Police. After calling the emergency dispatch centre, the person reporting the incident will be directed to the police officer on duty in the relevant district. Subsequently, the Police will inform The Centre for Biosecurity and Biopreparedness (CBB).
Suspiscion of an uncontrolled release of dangerous biological materials, ie. a leak of dangerous bacteria without containment, must immediately be reported to the duty officer at The Centre for Biosecurity and Biopreparedness at 3268 8127. CBB will provide expert advice on countermeasures and alert relevant authorities.
Unauthorized persons must be kept away from areas of danger until CBB has ensured that adequate countermeasures in relation to the potential risk have been implemented.
It is important to avoid handling the shipment as much as possible to minimise potential dispersal through the air. Thus, avoid the following:
It is essential to minimise movement and traffic in the room where the shipment is placed. Persons in the room should move around carefully and as little as possible.
Before leaving the room attempt to collect as much information as possible about the shipment and pass the information to the authorities. The following observations are particularly important:
If persons in the room are in possession of a camera, for example in a mobile phone, photos of the shipment and potentially visible powder will be very useful for the subsequent investigation.
Before leaving the room:
Everybody should carefully leave the room. Thereafter only authorised incident management personnel are allowed into the room
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Suspicious mail
Precautions when receiving suspicious mail
1. Avoid handling the package:
It is important to avoid handling the shipment as much as possible to minimize potential dissemination through the air.Thus, the following should be avoided:
• Opening the letter/parcel
• Moving the letter/parcel
• To attempt to put the letter/parcel in a bag or sack etc.
2. Put the letter/parcel carefully where found
3. Minimize movement:
It is essential to minimize movement and traffic in the room where the shipment is placed. Persons in the room should move around carefully as little as possible.
4. Collect information:
Before leaving the room, it should be attempted to collect as much information as possible about the shipment so this can be passed on in details. The following is particularly important:
• Basis of suspicion – why is the shipment suspicious?
• Appearance
• Size
• Form (letter/parcel)
• Postal stamps
• Recipient and sender, if provided
• Writings or drawings
• Typing and spelling
• Labels
• Letter, possibly including threats
• Enhancements of the shipment, or other indications that appear suspicious or unusual
• Method of sealing
• Leakage
• Possible signs of visible powder
5. Take photos
If persons in the room are in possession of a camera, for example in a mobile phone, photos should be taken of the shipment and potentially visible powder. Photos are extremely useful for the subsequent investigation.
6. Confine the damage
When leaving the room, the following steps should be taken in order to confine potential further harmful consequences:
• Close doors and windows
• Stop any ventilation systems
7. Evacuate the room carefully
Persons who have found and handled the shipment should carefully evacuate the room, and subsequently, only incident management personnel are allowed to enter the room.
8. Persons with visible contamination (i.e. powder on their clothes)
• Wash off powder without getting in contact with mouth and eyes.
• If possible: Take a shower and change clothes. After this, you may move freely.
• If a shower is not possible: Await assistance and wait in neighboring rooms with a phone.
9. Persons who a are not visibly contaminated, but who have been in the room with the shipment
Await assistance and help in neighboring rooms with a phone.
10. Contact the Police
11. The Police contact the Centre for Biosecurity and Biopreparedness (CBB) on the 24/7 duty number: 3268 8127
CBB conducts a scientific analysis of the incident and provides advice. The following assessments are provided:
1. The incident is not dangerous. It is not necessary to take any further steps and daily business can be resumed.
2. Based on the information available, it cannot be ruled out that dangerous biological materials may be present and special investigation is required. CBB and the Police conduct special investigations.
