Boxes of face masks cause a stir outside Chinese consulate in Penang

People gathering outside the Chinese consulate in Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: Three boxes left by a group of seven people outside the Chinese consulate at the Ayer Rajah area in Pulau Tikus here today caused a stir after a bomb disposal squad detonated them for fear that they could be explosives.

It all began when the two men stood outside the consulate bungalow holding up banners in support of the people of Wuhan and Hubei at about 3pm, followed by an impassioned speech in support of China.

The group then left the three boxes of N95 face masks at the front entrance of the consulate and left.

The consulate alerted 999 at 3.20pm over the boxes which they claimed looked suspicious, a fire department initial report showed.

A Hazmat crew and firemen at the Chinese consulate.

A Hazmat team from the fire department then arrived on the scene to be on standby.

Later, a police bomb squad detonated the boxes for good measure. It was then determined that there were no bombs in the boxes.

Northeast district police chief Soffian Santong said the boxes were found to be merely boxes of face masks.

He said the group of seven people had merely come to the consulate to show their solidarity with the Chinese who are facing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.

“They stood outside the consulate and chanted support slogans for China and left after 30 minutes.” - FMT