BP Employees Fall Ill from US Mail

BP staff working in the Moscow office of the British energy giant fell ill Tuesday after handling a suspect package sent from the US city of Houston.

The employees suffered burning eyes, headaches and irritated skin after touching the package, police spokesman Kirill Mazurin said, quoted by Interfax.

The Russian emergency situations ministry, which sent a team to the BP offices, said the symptoms could have been caused by a "neutralising gas."

Ministry investigators on the scene examined the package and took samples for testing.

Only one woman fell ill and was later able to return home without hospitalisation.

BP representatives were not available for comment.