X-ray shows ‘suspicious package’ contains only DVD

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This article was published 06/07/2015 (3746 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Emergency crews left the Canada Post building on McDermot Avenue about 11 a.m. today after the building had been evacuated because of a suspicious package.

An X-ray of the package showed it was a DVD, said Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service platoon chief Frank Leswick.

The building in the 400 block had been evacuated about 10 a.m., and the area was blocked off to traffic and pedestrians by yellow police tape.

Leswick said the size of the package was consistent with other suspicious packages in recent days, and had no return address.

He said the package was addressed to “a media person” but would not divulge that person’s identity.

The package was discovered by a mail carrier. Police sealed off the block around the depot at 400 McDermot Ave. Bomb squad was summoned to investigate.

“There’s certainly a fear. Letter carriers are worried,” said union spokeswoman Candice Feilberg.

About 40 people evacuated from post office building.

The package measured only about 6 x 4 inches, said one mail carrier, who did not wish to be named. It was in a bubble wrap envelope, he said.

The RCMP bomb squad arrived at the scene as of about 10:45 a.m., because the Winnipeg Police Service unit was wrapped up with earlier investigations.

Several similar calls were reported in Winnipeg over the weekend, which followed a harrowing day Friday when a bomb exploded in the hands of a woman inside a law firm on River Avenue.

Maria Mitousis, 38, was rushed to hospital in critical condition after opening a package that contained an explosive device while inside her office in the 200 block of River. She suffered extensive injuries to her hands, throat and stomach, and required surgery.

Winnipeg police have a 49-year-old man in custody.

Police charged 49-year-old Guido Amsel late Sunday night with two counts of attempted murder in a series of bombings that have left 38-year-old lawyer Maria Mitousis badly injured in hospital.

Court records show Mitousis represents Amsel’s ex-wife in a lengthy divorce proceeding.

Other calls of suspicious packagers were on St. Mary’s Avenue on Friday, Washington Avenue late Saturday and Stradbrook Avenue on Sunday.