olice have confirmed with CNN that a copy of the text of the threatening letter addressed to the US Embassy, UK and Australian High Commissions and the NZ Herald was obtained via the internet.
The letter’s text was included in a report posted by the US State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council.
The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was established in 1985 to foster the exchange of security related information between the U.S. Government and the American private sector operating abroad.
Assistant Commissioner Jon White said the information was provided to US Authorities through the US Embassy.
Police have this afternoon met with representatives from the US Embassy to discuss how the information entered the public domain.
"It is our understanding that the letter was inadvertently released notwithstanding confidentiality requirements accompanying a copy of the letter.
"We have asked the Embassy to follow through with Washington on how this came to be," said Assistant Commissioner White.