WARDEN URGENT MESSAGE

[meroberts]

FYI - JUST RECEIVED!


Over the last three months there has been a series of incidents involving explosive devices in packages in and around the Mexico City area. At least twelve explosive devices were delivered to banks, stores, colleges, a hospital, a church, a Mexican government building and the Italian Embassy within this consular district. The majority of these devices have been ?victim operated,? meaning that they did not have a timer or remote trigger and simply waited for an unsuspecting person to open the package and detonate the bomb. There have also been several explosive devices planted at ATM machines in Mexico City. These have mostly occurred during early morning hours. If you see a suspicious bag or device in or around an ATM, stop what you are doing, leave the area immediately and report the suspicious package to the authorities. While there is no evidence that these package bombs are targeting U.S. citizens or interests, it is important to remain aware of the identifiers of suspicious mail and the actions to be taken if such a package is encountered. The following photographs display actual package bombs recently delivered here in Mexico City. The pictures on the left show the packages, the pictures on the right show some of the internal components. One recurring indicator for explosive packages delivered in Mexico City is that the recipient?s name does not always correspond with the recipient?s address. Tips for Identifying Suspicious Envelopes and Parcels ? Excessive postage? Handwritten or poorly typed addresses? Misspelling of common words? Strange return address or no return address? Incorrect titles or title without a name? Not addressed to a specific person? Marked with restriction, ?Personal,? ?Confidential,? or ?Do not x-ray?? Marked with threatening language? Postmarked from a city or state that does not match the return address? Powdery substance felt through or appearing on the package or envelope? Oily stains, discolorations, or odor? Lopsided or uneven envelope? Excessive packing material such as masking tape, string, etc.? Excessive weight? Ticking sound? Visual distractions? Protruding wires or aluminum foil U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Embassy?s website for updated travel information. Please also consult the Country Specific Information for Mexico as well as the Department of State?s Travel Warning for Mexico, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the U.S. Embassy or the closest U.S. Consulate. The numbers provided below for the Embassy and Consulates are available around the clock. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov. The Embassy's internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/. U.S. citizens in other areas of Mexico should seek the assistance from the U.S. Consulates or Consular agencies located throughout the country. Click on the following to find a directory of Consulates and Consular Agencies.

Happy Holidays everyone!