Mystery surrounds chemical letter scare at mosque

Mystery surrounds a chemical scare at a mosque as experts have been unable to identify a substance sent through the post to the venue.

Emergency services were dispatched to the building in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, after the material was delivered by post on Monday. Police are continuing to investigate to establish if the incident was an elaborate hoax or a real chemical attack intended to do harm.

Fire, police and ambulances were sent to the Masjid Bilal Islamic Centre, which is in a former library opposite a parade of shops.

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In a statement issued to the Manchester Evening News today, Greater Manchester Police confirmed the suspect letter had been delivered by Royal Mail and added: “The substance in the letter was, on closer inspection by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, deemed to be only a trace amount and could not be sufficiently tested.

“The premises has resumed normal operations. The substance remains unknown, but no harm has come to any person at the premises. Police have seized the letter for forensic analysis.”

In a statement issued yesterday, GMP said: “We have received a report of an unknown substance being delivered within a piece of mail to a premises on Bury Old Road, Prestwich. As a precaution, GMFRS were drafted in to assist us and evacuated the affected premises.

“No one has reported falling ill from the substance nd there is not thought to be a wider risk to those locally.”

A spokesman for GMFRS said yesterday: “At around 4.15pm today (Monday), firefighters were called to assist Greater Manchester Police at an incident at a premises in Bury Old Road in Prestwich. Two fire engines from Whitefield and Broughton fire stations quickly arrived at the scene.

“Firefighters assisted GMP in carrying out an evacuation of the building and setting up a cordon as a precaution.”