Rupa Huq In Suspect Package Scare
MP's office cordoned off until substance declared to be non-hazardous
Local MP Rupa Huq's Westminster office was cordoned off this Tuesday morning (13 March) by police after the delivery of a suspect package.
A staff member was taken to hospital as a precaution after handling the package which contained a sticky liquid. It was later declared non-hazardous.
The Ealing Central and Acton MP, said the package contained a 'Punish A Muslim' letter which advocated violence towards Muslims.
It was the third such incident this week, as similar packages were sent on Monday to two fellow Labour MPs, which were also found not to be a threat to health. A fourth letter was delivered to another Muslim MP later in the day. The substance in the letters was later described as 'low level noxious'.
According to Dr Huq, one of her staff was taken to hospital but has since been discharged. She described the whole incident as 'a scary experience.'
A spokesperson for Parliament said that on Tuesday the Metropolitan Police had investigated suspicious substances in two items of mail. They were not found to be hazardous.
"The affected areas were temporarily cordoned off but no evacuation was necessary. One person attended hospital as a precaution."
Thanks for concern after suspect package received at my Commons Office. My staff have had the all-clear apart from one who is being checked out at hospital as he handled the irritant substance. Totally unacceptable for Muslim MPs to face this - just done a BBC interview on it. pic.twitter.com/wrIgE1cYdR
— Rupa Huq MP (@RupaHuq) March 13, 2018
Dr Huq tweeted a copy of the letter (see below). Several people replied on Twitter saying the behaviour was unacceptable.
March 13, 2018