Image: 7 News/Kristy Mayr

Australian Federal Police (AFP) is responding to reports of multiple suspicious packages at multiple international consulates across Melbourne and Canberra.

Workers are being evacuated across town, with the embassies impacted believed to include the American, British, Indian, Italian, New Zealand, Korean, Egyptian, Pakistani, Greek, Spanish, Japanese, Thai and German consulates after hazardous materials were discovered just before 2pm.

It’s reported the packages have various descriptions mentioning “asbestos” and “wear mask”.

The AFP, Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Ambulance Victoria are on site.

BREAKING: Police and emergency services have responded to suspicious packages to embassies and consulates in ACT & VIC today (Wednesday, 9 January 2019). The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances are being investigated.

— AFP (@AusFedPolice) January 9, 2019

The Emergency Victoria website lists 18 “Hazardous Material” alerts which correspond to consulate addresses.

Victoria Police also officially acknowledged the incident late this afternoon.

Victoria Police is aware of a number of consulate offices in Melbourne today receiving suspicious packages.

At this time we believe the matter is targeted and not impacting the general community.

Victoria Police will work to assist the AFP and other agencies including the MFB with the management and investigation of this issue.

The discovery of suspicious substances at the Argentinian consulate in Sydney prompted a large scale emergency response just two days ago.