Greek law enforcement agencies and universities were on high alert as the tally of suspicious envelopes sent to the country's universities from India, including some containing an unidentified irritating powder, continued to rise on Friday afternoon. 
Dozens of university rectors have came forward to report the receipt of similar envelopes. Based on the evidence so far, the envelopes had been sent by post many days ago and some of them arrived around Christmas.
Universities that have received envelopes include the University of the Aegean in Mytilini, Lesvos; the Ionian University; the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA); Macedonia University in Thessaloniki and several others. In addition, envelopes have been sent to Technological Educational Institutes (TEI)and to a private college in Athens, while some were addressed to tertiary education establishments. One more envelope addressed to a Thessaloniki university professor was seized at Athens International Airport.
Apart from the envelope in Mytilini, which set off the alarm, none of the others opened so far contained any suspicious substance. The powder that irritated the nasal lining and mouth of employees at the University of the Aegean appears not to have been dangerous. According to sources, an analysis at the General State Chemical Laboratory indicated that the specific envelope contained a type of glue that is irritating to the nose and mouth and was soaked in a substance used in printing ink. In several cases, the enlvelopes were opened by University staff or rectors and found to contain advertising material, while none of the people involved reported any symptoms.
A definitive answer is still pending, however, since tests on many of the envelopes have not been completed.
Any staff that handled the envelopes will undergo precautionary medical examinations, while all university employees that have came into contact with the suspicious envelopes so far have been discharged from hospital after biochemical tests came back negative.
On discovering the envelopes, Greek authorities activated the protocol envisaged under the Plan for Managing Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear Threats, sending specially trained Fire Brigade officers in protective hazmat gear to pick up the suspicious envelopes and transfer them for testing to the state laboratory.
They also quarantined areas where envelopes were found, such as the Corfu central post office that remained closed on Friday, so they might undergo decontamination.
Universities and post offices have been informed to alert the authorities if more such packages are found.