A severed finger belonging to a living human was sent to French president Emmanuel Macron by post.
The macabre parcel containing the amputated digit arrived at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday.
“The finger was initially put in a fridge where the police put their snacks,” said a source at the official presidential home. “This was to make sure it was preserved and could be analysed as quickly as possible.”
Tests later identified the finger as belonging to a “living human being,” who was contacted and “given full medical support,” said the source.
There was no note, or any other form of correspondence, accompanying the finger, leaving investigators baffled.
“It’s not at all clear why this finger was sent to the president,” said the source, who said the owner of the finger would not be identified, for a number of reasons including medical confidentiality.
Bullets are among the sinister items sent to French heads of state over the years, but this is the first time a body part has been received.
It comes during a particularly troubled time for Mr Macron, who has faced mass rioting over a number of issues.
These range from pension reform to the shooting dead of a 17-year-old French Algerian by a Paris policeman last week.
More disturbances are expected on Friday, when Mr Macron leads the July 14 Bastille Day celebrations in Paris.
Thousands of extra police and gendarmes will be on the street following intelligence warnings that rioters will target France’s national holiday.
