Authorities in France are investigating a suspicious letter discovered at a sorting center in Longvic, near Dijon. According to French media, the letter lacked postage and was addressed to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and the Roubaix town hall.

Upon examination, the letter was found to contain racial slurs and an unidentified black powder. Initial tests conducted by the technical and scientific police indicated possible traces of plague in the substance, prompting immediate concern.

Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is typically transmitted to humans through flea bites or contact with infected animals. While rare in developed countries, the World Health Organization reports that plague remains endemic in certain regions, with 1,000 to 3,000 cases occurring globally each year.  Its claim to fame though is that it killed half of Europe in the Middle Ages.

However, officials from the Côte-d’Or prefecture have cautioned that this could be a false positive. The Pasteur Institute is currently conducting further analyses to verify the initial findings, with results expected by Monday evening.

The Dijon prosecutor’s office has launched a judicial investigation for defamation and public insult, with the territorial crime division leading the inquiry. Authorities have yet to name a suspect. 

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