German economy ministers office receives envelope with white powder

2^min

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck's constituency office said on Thursday it had received an envelope containing a white substance, prompting a large-scale police operation.

After a preliminary examination police believe the substance was merely finely-ground sand, a spokesperson said, pending a full investigation of the incident.

Employees of Habeck's office in Flensburg, near the northern border with Denmark, brought the envelope on Wednesday afternoon to police who subsequently alerted the fire brigade, a police statement said late that day.

The police operation lasted two hours and the substance was removed from the building by the fire brigade in a container.

Habeck, whose ministry is responsible for energy as well as the economy, and who also serves as deputy chancellor of Germany, has been the face of high-profile policies seeking to mitigate the economic fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

His ranking in opinion polls has fallen in recent weeks following a nepotism scandal in his ministry and criticism of his push to phase out older home-heating systems.

German economy minister's office receives envelope with white powder

German

Economic

Minister

Office

Receives

Envelope

White Powder

UN peacekeepers say Israel built walls inside Lebanon

UN peacekeepers say Israel built walls inside Lebanon

Warnings grow in Israel over limits of force against Hezbollah

Warnings grow in Israel over limits of force against Hezbollah

Iran's foreign minister to hold Paris talks Wednesday: French ministry

Iran's foreign minister to hold Paris talks Wednesday: French ministry

Inside Hezbollah’s tunnels: Lebanese army reveals yearlong disarmament work

Inside Hezbollah’s tunnels: Lebanese army reveals yearlong disarmament work

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

Pope Leo XIV tells Lebanese youth Lebanon’s future ‘is in your hands’; watch full speech here

Pope Leo XIV tells Lebanese youth Lebanon’s future ‘is in your hands’; watch full speech here

Pope Leo XIV moved by youth turnout in Bkerke: Video

Pope Leo XIV moved by youth turnout in Bkerke: Video

Pope Leo leaves for Istanbul—Video

Pope Leo leaves for Istanbul—Video

Pope Leo arrives at Turkey's Presidential Palace—Video

Pope Leo arrives at Turkey's Presidential Palace—Video

Pope Leo visits Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum—Video

Pope Leo visits Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum—Video

Warnings grow in Israel over limits of force against Hezbollah

Warnings grow in Israel over limits of force against Hezbollah

Risks to deposits: Lebanon's banks push back against financial gap law

Risks to deposits: Lebanon's banks push back against financial gap law