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NZ 'cyanide stockpile' warning
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNN) -- Stockpiles of cyanide could be released at the America's Cup, the world's premier yachting event, if Iraq is attacked, letters to embassies in New Zealand have threatened. Police revealed the contents of the letters on Wednesday, while beefing up security at the event and urging the public to be vigilant. One letter sent to the British High Commissioner on Tuesday contained cyanide. Two other threatening letters, one sent to the U.S. Ambassador and the other to the Australian High Commissioner, contained an innocuous white powder, the U.S. Embassy quoted police as saying. The letters contained the following message: "To ambassadors of America, Australia, and British. "September 11 fights for rights of free Islamic people of world. Our purpose is to challenge actions of the great satan America and resist its imperialist ambitions in the Islamic world. "Faced with such force September 11 will fight jihad by attacking American interests with weapons we have, stealth and sacrifice. "Our operations at Tiger Woods event succeeded in closure of Israeli Embassy. But the butcher of Bayrut still walks free. Until justice is done sacrifice will continue for the innocent and guilty. "America, Australia and British will suffer because of foreign policies. September 11 waits at the Americas Cup for instruction if Iraq is attacked by the host of Satan, all interests and their supporters will be attacked by September 11. "September has stockpiled 25 kilo weapon grade cyanide and will use those against those interest wherever they are. We know where you are your homes and families." It was signed: "Allahu Akbar Abd Allah September 11." A fourth letter was received by The New Zealand Herald newspaper on Monday. It contained an identical message and an equal amount of white powder, which was determined to be harmless. "We have the testing completed to the point where we have tested positive for cyanide and we've tested negative for anthrax on any of the letters," said Jon White, commissioner in charge of counter-terrorism for the New Zealand police. The three letters were mailed from within New Zealand. They were intercepted at the South Auckland Mail Center after one of the letters leaked white powder. White said the letters could have come from outside of the country, despite the postmarks. "The earlier letter was postmarked in Wellington, and these later letters were postmarked in Auckland but that doesn't mean to say they weren't introduced from outside of the country," he said, adding that "we don't have a clear idea about the origin at this point." Although White said police "don't have any clear suspicions at this stage," they could not rule out the possibility the author of the letter was the same person who sent a threatening letter in December, accompanied by cyanide, to the American Embassy ahead of the New Zealand Golf Open in January 2002. Swiss team Alinghi is leading the best-of-nine America's Cup regatta 3-0 against Team New Zealand. Race four is scheduled for Thursday after unsuitable weather conditions delayed it five times in the past week. Police encouraged participants and spectators to continue with their normal business, but to be observant about "anything which might seem out of the ordinary and worthy of reporting to the police." Police also encouraged the public to be vigilant, particularly with public transportation and consumption of pre-purchased food. Security around the America's Cup was recently reviewed and security was increased, the U.S. Embassy said, adding, "the current threat is within the approach to the higher setting addresses." Security arrangements for British, Australian and U.S. diplomatic representatives in New Zealand will be reassessed to take into consideration the latest threats, the U.S. Embassy said.
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