After discovery of an explosive DHL package on Friday in Potsdam, Brandenburg police warned against furr dangerous shipments that could be circulating. For parcel bomb is apparently part of a million blackmail against DHL, and was, contrary to first reports by police, quite dangerous. The perpetrators would accept " most serious injuries to addressees or even ir killing," said Brandenburg minister of Interior Karl-Heinz Schröter.
The authorities assume that perpetrator was not acting for first time. Already at beginning of November a package with a dangerous bomb went to an online Versandhändler in Brandenburg Frankfurt on OR. At that time package went on fire, a possible confession letter was destroyed. It is refore unclear wher re is a connection with DHL blackmail – and possibly furr shipments have been sent.
Time Online has collected most important questions and answers about DHL's blackmail:
How do you recognize a suspicious package?According to police, re are suspicious packets of conspicuous misspellings and poorly written addresses – this was at least case in programmes in Potsdam and Frankfurt (or). Also stains or discoloration as well as outstanding wires should alert receiver of a packet.
Packages can only pose a threat when y are opened. Therefore, police advise not to open an unknown package under any circumstances, nor to turn or shake it. The recipient should forget package, go away and inform authorities. DHL recommends that your customers only open packages if sender is known or if y are expecting an order.
How high is risk for consumers?According to Brandenburg's police president Hans-Jürgen Mörke, possible package bombs could be addressed primarily to small companies. But he also advises individuals to be cautious; They should observe safety instructions of authorities. However, it is unlikely to become a victim of blackmailer alone because of multitude of packages transported daily.
What do you want recipient of a suspicious package to do?The police and Brandenburg Minister of Interior called on population to notify investigating authorities of suspicious packets from unknown senders. For this purpose a reference telephone was switched, which is reachable under number 0331/50 59 50. A commission with 50 employees is working on case with police.
What happened on Friday in Potsdam?On Friday afternoon, a delivery service brought a suspicious package to a pharmacy near Potsdam Christmas market. When he unpacked pharmacy owner noticed "that re were such strange wires peeping out", as he said to Potsdam's latest news. As a result, package was carried out of pharmacy and police were informed, said owner.
The Christmas market was evacuated and Potsdam city centre was closed down in parts. The package was opened by specialists of Federal Police with water jet of a special robot. At 17.30 p.m. The police said: "The controlled defusing of suspicious object is done." The address and sender on package would also contain "conspicuous spelling errors", according to police.
How dangerous was defused package bomb?According to latest findings from police, she was probably very dangerous. In package re was a tin box with hundreds of nails, batteries and wires and a suspicious powder. At opening pharmacist heard a hiss, said Brandenburg's interior minister Karl-Heinz Schroeder. This is a clear indication of a possible ignition device which could not be found after destruction of package. The package would refore have exploded and could seriously injure people, police told.
According to investigators, package was a clear threat to DHL. A corresponding threat letter from destroyed package had been reconstructed. The message was in form of a so-called QR code. Address and sender on package would contain "conspicuous spelling errors". A QR code is a two-dimensional pattern of black and white squares. You can, for example, convert texts or Internet addresses to be read with your smartphone.
DHL blackmail-perpetrator probably from Berlin-Brandenburg police have indications that Epresser of DHL could come from Berlin-Brandenburg region. Criminals send packet bombs and want to blackmail logistics group. © Photo: Sean Gallup/Reuters Date Of Update: 05 December 2017, 12:03
