Official: White powder at U.N. appears to be flour

(New York - WABC, December 15, 2006) (WABC) -- A spokesman says preliminary tests on a suspicious package leaking white powder at the U.N. on Friday showed the substance to be flour.

"On the basis of preliminary results, the substance does not appear to be harmful but some tests continue," U.N. associate spokesman Farhan Haq said. "It appears to flour."

Haq said the suspicious package was found around 4 p.m. on the fourth floor of the building near the press area. The U.N. was not evacuated. Authorities say a small section on the fourth floor has been closed off.

We're told that U.N. officials immediately informed the NYPD and the DEP, who later dispatched teams to test the package.

Police were on the scene, along with HAZMAT officials and police emergency service units earlier Friday night.

Security experts said that some U.N. staff may have to be decontaminated.

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