ANKARA
The number of people under strict medical observation, following a suspicious yellow substance sent to various western consulates in Istanbul, has increased to 25, the Turkish health ministry said on Saturday.
Letters containing yellow powder were mailed to Canadian, Belgian, German, French and American consulates on Friday, sparking suspicions of a chemical attack.
19 people from the Canadian, 4 from the German and 2 from the Belgian consulates are currently held under supervision in an Istanbul hospital until the examination of the powder is completed.
The Turkish authorities have taken samples of the yellow substance and sent them to the Hifzisihha Laboratory in Ankara for a thorough examination.
The results from the laboratory are scheduled to be released on October 27.
Turkish chemical, radiological and nuclear teams were dispatched on Friday morning when authorities received reports about suspicious packages being delivered to the consulates.
No information has been released so far over the source of the suspicious letters. The investigation is ongoing.
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