AT LEAST 12 people have been injured after a suspicious package was found in a DHL distribution centre.
Police and specialist hazmat officials were deployed to the warehouse in Langenzenn, Germany this morning after several workers suddenly fell ill.
GettyAt least 12 people have been injured after a suspicious package was discovered in a DHL distribution centre[/caption]
GettyThe discovery of the package follows a spate of Russian attacks across Europe on DHL-linked parcel depots in the past 12 months[/caption]
According to initial investigations, a suspicious package was found early in the morning.
It is still unclear what was inside but local media has claimed it was an unknown powder.
Seven workers at the depot were quickly taken to the hospital after complaining about “irritation” after coming into contact with the parcel, a police spokeswoman said.
Officials fear the number of those affected could still rise.
Security services are still looking into who may have planted the package.
A spokesperson for the Central Franconia Police Headquarters confirmed: “Hazardous materials teams from Erlangen and Greding are on site.
“The affected people are being cared for by firefighters.”
The depot was evacuated as emergency services urged locals to avoid the area as they continue to probe the suspect package.
The shock discovery follows a spate of attacks across Europe on parcel depots in the past 12 months which have been linked back to Russia.
Western governments have accused Moscow of playing a part in a series of fires and acts of sabotage aimed at destabilising allies of Ukraine.
On July 22, a suspect package caught fire at a DHL depot in Minworth, Birmingham.
That same month, fires broke out in a container due to be loaded onto a DHL cargo plane in the German city of Leipzig.
Meanwhile, a fire at a transport hub near Jablonow, near Warsaw, Poland took almost two hours to put out.
Polish police arrested four people – and claimed the suspected Russian arson attacks could have been a test run for future attacks on the US.
It is feared the fears were part of an orchestrated campaign organised by Russia‘s military intelligence agency, the GRU.
Moscow denies being behind acts of sabotage.
Concerns spiralled again back in November when Western spy chiefs accused Putin’s agents of planting firebombs on cargo planes.
It comes just days after three German-Russian dual nationals went on trial in Munich accused of spying for Moscow.
They also allegedly plotted attacks on critical military infrastructure and industry in the German city.
The main suspect, named as Dieter S, is said to have masterminded the plan to sabotage Germany‘s support for Ukraine.
He is being tried alongside Alexander J. and Alex D., who are alleged to have helped him on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.
Google MapsA DHL warehouse in Birmingham, where a letter bomb sparked a fire last year[/caption]
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