A package containing an unknown powder caused Freisenbruch-Meyer Insurance staff to be quarantined and a portion of Front Street closed for nearly two hours this afternoon.

At 3.15 p.m. the insurance company’s Front Street office was hand-delivered a package containing what employees described as “a strange-smelling powder”.

Police and Fire officials responded, evacuating the building and blocking the section of Front Street between Queen and Parliament, from traffic.

Staff members were initially held in the building, but later allowed to move outside, across the street.

“At 3.47 p.m. the Fire Department was called by Police and told a white powdery substance was found in a box at Freisenbruch-Meyer Front Street,” said Lt. Wanda Roberts of the Fire Department. “Five fire vehicles and ten firefighters were dispatched. The substance was contained and is being tested by Government analysts right now at the scene.”

Freisenbruch-Meyer representative Larry Osbourne said that of the thirty staff present in the building, only one, receptionist Sharon Mallory, was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for testing.

“It’s not anything dangerous,” said Mr. Osbourne. “She’ll be fine.”

For the full story see tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette.