Emergency response following anthrax threats at four separate insurance companies

Police are investigating after several locations received letters marked "Bacillus anthracis inside" on Wednesday.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Counter Terrorism Response units were dispatched to AIA Financial Centre in San Po Kong at 12.47 pm yesterday (Oct 16), accompanied by a HazMat team from the Fire Services Department.

A total of 18 male and 33 female employees were evacuated, with two reporting feelings of illness.

Authorities have confirmed that the white powder found in the envelopes is non-toxic. 

Following this incident, at 3.44 pm police received another report from a different insurance company at One Kowloon, informing them they had also received a letter marked "Bacillus anthracis inside."

The EOD team responded to the scene and confirmed that there was no danger.

At 5.27 pm, a third similar case was reported at Berkshire House on Westlands Road in Quarry Bay, with the EOD team once again deployed to manage the situation.

The final case was reported just before 8 pm yesterday, after a staff member from an insurance company in Millennium City reported the incident at Kwun Tong Police Station with the suspicious envelope in hand, claiming it was received around 1 pm yesterday.

The EOD team was called to the police station, and the incident is under further investigation.

Police are currently examining the connections between the four cases to determine if the letters were sent by the same individual.

Sources indicated that the companies receiving the threat letters were all insurance firms, and the letters contained phrases such as "Bacillus anthracis inside," "direct selling," and "earning disaster money."

Police have confirmed these reports and stated that officers were promptly dispatched to the scenes upon receiving them.

After inspection by EOD personnel, it was determined that the powder did not contain explosive materials. The officers collected the powder for further analysis, which was later identified as glass powder.

Following a preliminary investigation, the case was classified as "criminal intimidation" and has been forwarded to the Eastern Police District for further follow-up. No arrests have been made yet.