Unknwon attacker sends bomb to Japan’s PMO

TOKYO, JUNE 12: An unknown attacker sent a letter containing radioactive powder to the office of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, officials said on Monday. “We are aware of the crime and are investigating it,” said a National Police Agency spokesman, confirming the contents of a report by Jiji Press News Agency.

Separate envelopes were sent to the Prime Minister’s office, Science and Technology Agency, Education Ministry and other government ministries around June 6, the spokesman said. “We cannot disclose details at the moment as the investigation is still under way,” he added. The envelopes contained documents and some powdered material, including radioactive powder, the Jiji Press News Agency said. The substance was believed to be monazite, a mineral containing thorium that can be used as nuclear fuel, it said. But the quantity was too small to harm people, it added.

The Prime Minister’s deputy press secretary, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, confirmed that a suspect envelope had arrived at Mori’s office but said police had yet to inform him of their investigations. “We have received an envelope containing a sand-like, or power-like material inside,” Koshikawa said. “The materials and envelope were sent to the Metropolitan Police Agency. We have not been informed of what was inside,” he added. Further details were being withheld during the investigation, Koshikawa said. The envelope was opened by an official in the Prime Minister’s office, who had not undergone health checks, he said.