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Package with Quran note triggers security scare in East London church

A mysterious package with a note referencing the Qur'an caused a security scare at the St. Peter and St. Paul's Church in Chingford.

The note on the package reads, "Please do not read unless you are an expert on the Quran [sic]. Very seriously dangerous. Please."

The package turned out to be the Good News Bible wrapped in a tea towel. It was found outside the church by Jessica Worth who was in the area for a Zumba class.

St. Peter and St. Paul, Chingford | Wikimedia Commons/Edwardx

"At first I thought it was a joke because nothing has ever happened like that in Chingford," Worth told the Standard. "But after we spoke about I thought I'd best report it because it was at a church," she added. 

Rev. Andy Trennier said that he was called to the scene after the package was found.

"To be honest I thought it was which was a good news bible wrapped up in a tea towel but the officers were very professional and dealt with it seriously," said Trennier. "We're a popular, very busy, urban church so we do get people with mental health problems leaving notes in the place."

A Met Police spokeswoman stated that police were called but the package was not considered to be suspicious.

Trennier told Premier that he is trying to keep the churchyard and the building open as much as possible. He believes that it is the best way to deal with the situation.

Last month, Experts warned that the risk of terrorist attacks on churches in Britain increased after the murder of a French priest inside a church in Normandy last July. Nick Tolson, director of National Churchwatch, said that smaller churches are more likely to be targeted by terrorists as seen in the Normandy church attack.

The National Churchwatch issued a 12-page guidance advising churches to put bouncers on its churchdoors to guard the church against potential terrorist attacks. The document also suggested that churches should install CCTVs and alarms that could be set off by church personnel.