By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record
The courthouse in Selkirk
has joined the growing list of justice buildings across the country that have
received suspicious packages from China.
RCMP confirmed the
Provincial Court building on Eaton Avenue received two suspicious envelopes,
but wouldn’t say when the envelopes arrived at the court.
A Justice source said the
envelopes were received sometime at the end of April through the mail.
The source said the two
envelopes were from China and contained a number of documents.
“It was a big envelope
from Hong Kong,” said the source.
No one got sick from
opening the packages in Selkirk, and RCMP said the envelopes tested negative
for harmful substances.
But several people have
fallen ill after opening other suspicious packages, including two court staffers
in Thompson, who suffered shortness of breath, burning eyes and throat.
Last Monday, four
employees at a courthouse in Amherst, N.S. also became nauseous and dizzy after
opening one of the envelopes.
Seventeen Provincial Court
buildings across Manitoba had received the ‘suspicious’ packages as of last
Tuesday.
The packages appeared at
courthouses in Winnipeg, Morden, Brandon, Minnedosa, and Thompson at the start
of April before showing up at other Canadian courts.
RCMP spokeswoman Tara Seel
said Manitoba Mounties are in contact with investigators from other
jurisdictions, but couldn’t comment further about the investigation.
Police believe one person
is responsible for sending the packages.
-- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition May 13 2015 p.15
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