Greek Universities Targeted by Suspicious Packages

Several Greek institutions of higher education have received suspicious packages containing an unidentified substance over the last several days, according to Greek police.
Authorities revealed on Thursday that four packages sent from India and addressed to Athens Polytechnic, as well as universities in Corfu, Crete, and Volos were recently intercepted by the police.
The suspicious package arriving on Corfu was intercepted at the main post office there before it reached its destination. Several employees who were taken to the local hospital for tests were later discharged.
Thursday’s incidents follow the lockdown of the administrative building of the University of the Aegean on the Greek island of Lesvos after seven staff members fell ill after coming into contact with a suspicious package. That package was also sent from India.
Staff said that a “strange powder” was emitted when a package addressed to Chrissi Vitzilakis, the rector of Aegean University, was opened on Tuesday.
Seven people in the vicinity, mostly administrative staff, complained of mouth and nose discomfort and they were sent to the local hospital as a precaution. Their lives are not considered to be in danger.
The General Chemical State Laboratory in Athens is currently examining the content of the package.
The premises of the University of the Aegean are being scoured for clues by a team of experts that arrived late on Wednesday.
As of press time, there has been no official statement made by Greek police on the incident.