Belgian investigators found a nerve gas ingredient in letters addressed to the Belgian prime minister's office and several embassies, the government said today.
The letters, some of which were intercepted by police due to anthrax fears, prompted an emergency meeting of the health, justice and interior ministers to assess the incident and consider extra security measures, a government spokeswoman said.
At least 10 letters were posted to addresses including the US, British and Saudi embassies in Brussels, as Belgium was trying 23 suspected accomplices of al Qaeda.