GERMANY: A visitor at Berlin's U.S. consular section applying for an American visa set off an alarm after a staff member experienced respiratory problems when she opened his passport

Record ID: 702475

  • Title: GERMANY: A visitor at Berlin's U.S. consular section applying for an American visa set off an alarm after a staff member experienced respiratory problems when she opened his passport
  • Date: 13th September 2012
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 13, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, STEFAN REDLICH, SAYING: "The man is said to be an Albanian. Berlin police so far did not have the opportunity to speak to the man. Since this all happened on territory belonging to the U.S. embassy and therefore outside of Germany we cannot act the way we usually would in Berlin. Forensic experts are currently on site to investigate whether this was in fact a dangerous substance. We are still awaiting the result of this examination."
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA8HU702HC4U1ML8EKYH4G7OH9U
  • Story Text: The American embassy's consular section in Berlin was cleared on Thursday (September 13) after a staff member experienced respiratory problems when she opened the passport of a man seeking an U.S. entry visa.

    "This morning shortly before 11:00 a.m. (0900 GMT) a man came to the consular section here at the U.S. embassy at Clayallee" (street), Berlin police spokesman Stefan Redlich told Reuters Television.

    "He presented a passport and said he wanted an entry visa for the United States. When the female member of staff opened the passport she experienced respiratory problems and felt a metallic taste in her mouth. She then raised the alarm and the area was sealed off. Berlin police and the fire department were called in," said Redlich.
    According to him, the man is allegedly an Albanian citizen.

    "Berlin police so far did not have the opportunity to speak to the man," Redlich said.

    "Since this all happened on territory belonging to the U.S. embassy and therefore outside of Germany we can not act the way we usually would in Berlin. Forensic experts are currently on site to investigate whether this was in fact a dangerous substance. We are still awaiting the result of this examination."
    The consular section of the U.S. embassy is situated in the German capital's Zehlendorf district, some 15 kilometres (9.5 miles) from the U.S. embassy next to the city's landmark, Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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