For the second time in just under a week, Bermuda's emergency response teams were put on high alert yesterday, when a suspicious package was mailed to St. Brendan's Hospital.

Police said two packages were considered to be suspect. Efforts to intercept the second package were successful late yesterday, with both being taken to the King Edward Hospital for X-rays and then on to a Government analyst for testing.

Both packages were addressed to a staff member at the hospital. As of press time last night, it was not known what was in the packages

Commissioner of Police Jonathan Smith told The Royal Gazette: "Our initial information indicates that the powdery substance may be completely harmless, but we are nevertheless working with the staff at KEMH to make that final determination."

Inquiries about the origins of the envelopes have led Police to question a local woman who was recently treated at St. Brendan's.

"I want to caution people who send hoax packages," Commissioner Smith said. "These calls take up a lot of time and a lot of resources and can prove to be disruptive to the community."

But with tensions running high over an increase in anthrax cases in the US, responsible for at least three deaths, the Fire Service and Police cordoned off the hospital as a precaution after retrieving an envelope containing the white powdery substance.

This is the third incident this month involving a suspected threat of bioterrorism.

Last Wednesday, Fire and Police closed the Sessions House after it was thought that a suspect package was sent to Chief Justice Austin Ward, from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Justice Ward sounded the alarm because, he said, he was not expecting a package from the Middle East.

The concerns about the package caused two Supreme Court trials to be suspended and surrounding Government offices to be evacuated.

It later turned out that the package contained legal documents.

And later that same day, emergency officials went to the DHL courier service after it was said that a package there had a powdery residue on it. That incident was also ruled a false alarm.

Following the incidents, Mr. Smith denied that the emergency units had overreacted, saying that in the Government's estimation, the responses were both appropriate and necessary."