French President Emmanuel Macron has been sent a severed finger in the post.
The digit – a fingertip – was delivered to the Élysée Palace, the President’s official residence.
The finger was put in a fridge until officers collected it overnight last Sunday.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the package held “a piece of a finger, a fingertip it seems”.
The police have opened an investigation for “threat of a crime […] against an elected official”.
A letter was sent with the fingertip.
It was signed by the author, who was reported to have psychiatric problems.
The morbid discovery was made by Élysée staff, who alerted police.
A palace source said:
“The finger was initially put in a fridge where the police put their snacks.
“It was to make sure it was preserved and could be analysed as quickly as possible.
“It’s not at all clear why this finger was sent to the president.”
This is believed to be the first time the head of state has been sent a human body part in the post.
Between 1,000 and 1,500 letters and emails are sent to Mr Macron every day.
A team of seventy readers go through the communications.
Mr Macron takes a keen interest in the correspondence.
He views it as a cross-section of public opinion.
Sometimes responds personally.