Feng Sushi staff "fine" after "corrosive substance" delivered in envelope

10 August 2017 by
Feng Sushi staff "fine" after "corrosive substance" delivered in envelope

The staff at Feng Sushi in London Bridge are "fine" despite the delivery of a corrosive substance in an envelope to the restaurant earlier today.

Feng Sushi was evacuated this afternoon following the incident and emergency services have closed down the rest of Stoney Street, on which the restaurant sits.

Genuine Dining Company sales and marketing director Danielle Mitchell told The Caterer: "We are trying at the moment to get to the bottom of exactly what happened. Someone came into the restaurant and left an envelope on the counter with a letter on it saying ‘for the Feng Sushi team' or something like that.

"It had some crushed up white powder inside it and when it was touched by the staff it burned their fingers. We called the police and the ambulance services as soon as we realised what was happening.

"The fingers of the staff who touched it are slightly burnt but they are otherwise fine."

The restaurant was evacuated as a precaution but it is hoped that it will reopen later today.

The building in which the restaurant sits is on the same street that was targeted by the London Bridge terrorists on 3 June this year, however police are not treating this incident as terror related.

Chris Mitchell, managing director of the Genuine Dining Company said that although it had not yet been established what the substance in the envelope was, it was suspected to be some sort of solid fuel that had been crushed up. "Overall it is a bit of a storm in a teacup. Given what happened in Borough Market not so long ago, the police have been very quick to react but everyone is fine. The staff have been through enough already and it is another thing for them to worry about.

"The police are obviously concerned as to why someone would think it would be a good idea to do this, but they don't think it is terror-related and we hope to open later on today."

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: "The property was evacuated as a precaution.

"The substance has now been identified as a naturally occurring substance. Three people were treated at the scene for minor injuries as the result of an irritant and did not require hospital treatment.

"The premises will be handed by officers back over to the owners soon. No arrests have been made. Enquiries continue."

The Genuine Dining acquired the Japanese restaurant group, which runs eight restaurants in the capital and specialises in delivery and takeaway, earlier this year.

Borough Market to re-open 10 days after London Bridge terror attack >>

London terror attack: quick-thinking Feng Sushi staff save customers >>

The Genuine Dining Co acquires Feng Sushi >>

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