Police have arrested a 48-year-old Shepparton man over the delivery of 38 "suspicious packages" to embassies and consulates in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.
The man was arrested at his home on Wednesday night and charged with sending dangerous items by post.
Police allege he sent 38 parcels with a substance from his home in Shepparton, Victoria. The exact composition of the substance is still being determined.
The suspicious packages sparked a major emergency response and evacuation of seven foreign consulates across Melbourne, with embassies in Canberra also hit.
Diplomatic offices in Melbourne for countries including Germany, Italy, India, Spain and Korea were among those attended by police, fire crews and ambulance officers on Wednesday afternoon.
"Police have so far recovered 29 of these packages, with forensic testing to be undertaken on them to determine the exact composition of the material in them," a statement from Australian Federal Police said.
"Police have identified all intended recipients and have put processes in place to recover the outstanding packages. There is no ongoing threat to the general public."
AFP confirmed packages were also sent to embassies in Canberra, but it's unknown which countries were targeted.
The Indian and US consulates on St Kilda Road, along with the British, Swiss, German Korean, Greek, Italian, Pakistani and Egyptian missions were targeted.
Source: AAP Image/Kaitlyn Offer
"Police and emergency services have responded to suspicious packages to embassies and consulates in ACT & VIC today," the Australian Federal Police said in a statement.
"The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances are being investigated."
There are no reports of anyone being injured and Victorian police told reporters the general public was not believed to be at risk.
Two fire trucks, a hazardous materials vehicle and police cars were called to the Consulate-General of India on St Kilda Road, where staff sat outside the building, telling reporters they had been told not to comment to reporters.
The building was deemed "safe" and employees were able to reenter the building by 3pm.
The incident comes just days after emergency services were called to the Argentinian consulate in Sydney's CBD after reports that a suspicious substance was found in a parcel.
The powder, contained in clear plastic bags within an envelope, was subsequently deemed not dangerous.
