Barratt staff receive death threats

Staff at Barratt Homes offices in over 16 UK areas have been sent death threats and letters containing suspicious white powder.

A major police investigation is now underway across the UK to trace the source of the letters which threatened 'death to all Barratt employees'. The white powder enclosed with the letters was feared to be the deadly poison ricin but has since been confirmed to have been harmless.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire police, which is leading the investigations, said: “We are not disclosing any further information about the powder or its components but we can confirm it is totally harmless.”

It is thought that the threatening mail is from an objector to a Barratt development on a brownfield site in the Midlands.

A spokesman for Barratt Homes said: “It is true that some of our offices have been targeted by a hoaxer sending threatening mail. The white powder was found to be harmless and we have nothing further to add at this point.”

Officers are calling on anyone with any information relating to these incidents to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 0115 9670999, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.