Package with Qu'ran note on church doorstep sparks security scare

Very dangerous: The package sparked bomb fears
Jessica Worth
Jamie Micklethwaite27 September 2016

A suspicious package daubed with a note mentioning the Qu'ran sparked a security scare at an east Lonon church.

Met Police officers were called to SS Peter and Paul’s Church in Chingford on Monday night after the package was found on the church doorstep.

The rectangular parcel was left with a note, which read: “Please do not read unless you are an expert on the Quran [sic]. Very seriously dangerous. Please.”

Jessica Worth was taking part in a Zumba class when she found the package outside the church.

Suspicious: The package on the church doorstep was reported to police
@chingfordparish

The 23 year-old told the Standard: “At first I thought it was a joke because nothing has ever happened like that in Chingford.

“But after we spoke about I thought I’d best report it because it was at a church.

“They said apparently it was a hoax but you can’t be too careful because of everything that’s happening in the world.”

A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed that officers were called to the scene but the package was deemed to be non-suspicious.

Tea towel: The package was deemed unsuspicious
Jessica Worth

Church Reverend Andy Trennier told the Standard that St Peter and Paul’s was a busy urban church with many people coming and going throughout the day.

He told the Standard: “I was called in after an exercise class had taken place and someone found it.

“To be honest I thought it was which was a good news bible wrapped up in a tea towel but the officers were very professional and dealt with it seriously.

“We’re a popular, very busy, urban church so we do get people with mental health problems leaving notes in the place.”

“In the end it turned out to be just an irritating and rather stupid thing to do.”

Rev Trennier added that he has asked Waltham Forest Council to allow the grounds of the church open to the public to avoid incidents like this happening again.

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