SYDNEY, Jan. 10 (People’s Daily Online) -- The Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested a 48-year-old man at his home on Wednesday night for sending suspicious packages to diplomatic missions throughout Australia.

The man was charged with sending dangerous articles to be carried by postal service, and appeared before Melbourne Magistrate’s Court this morning. He will face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if convicted.

According to a joint statement between the AFP and Victoria Police, the man sent 38 parcels to consulates and embassies in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, with a substance suspected to have been sourced from his Shepparton home in Victoria.

Police said they had recovered 29 packages which will now go for forensic testing to determine the exact composition of the material used.

The US, British, Pakistani, New Zealand, Swiss and Greek consulates confirmed that they had not received suspicious parcels in the mail.

This Tuesday, The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) notified all diplomatic missions to be cautious with suspicious packages being delivered by mail.

According to the DFAT statement, the department has since provided AFP guidance on handling suspicious mail to all diplomatic missions. DFAT also advised consulates and embassies to report anything suspicious to the AFP protection Liaison Team.

Police confirmed in a joint statement: “There is no ongoing threat to the general public.”

“The assistance of the Australian Post has been crucial to the outcome of this investigation,” police said in the statement. (People’s Daily Online/ Shengyin Li)