AU: White powder scares at US, UK, Israeli embassies.

Testing. Testing.

The U.S., British and Israeli embassies each received packages containing a suspicious powder Wednesday, creating a security scare in which some staff was evacuated and police cordoned off nearby streets, police said.

Police would not detail their security response.

They blocked traffic to the diplomatic precinct and a fire engine was sent to the scene.

There have been a series of similar incidents in recent years in the capital. Police have not revealed a motive.

The Israeli Embassy was the first to raise the alarm at 11:45 a.m., followed by the U.S. and then the British.

Israeli Embassy spokesman Dor Shapira told Israel Radio that the mission was operating as usual by Wednesday night.

"It's not known what it was, but it's known that it wasn't dangerous," Shapira said. "So we've returned to normal activity."

He said the envelopes sent to the other two embassies were similar.

Shapira said the police are investigating who sent the envelopes but did not give any other details.