FBI Determines Suspicious White Powder Sent to Florida State Attorney's Office Not Hazardous
Updated: Three workers in a Florida prosecution office were hospitalized after being exposed to a suspicious powder in the mail room. A fire department rescue worker was also taken to the hospital with cardiac symptoms.
The workers were exposed to powder contained in a letter in the mail room of the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, according to CNN and the Palm Beach Post. State Attorney Michael McAuliffe later issued a statement confirming that the “suspicious substance and communication” were directed at him, the Palm Beach Post reports.
All three workers had headaches, and two experienced nausea and vomiting, CNN says. The Post says all three had nausea and headache symptoms.
Initial testing of the powder was inconclusive and the material was sent to the FBI for additional tests. From preliminary tests, the FBI determined that the powder was not hazardous.
Meanwhile, Florida Department of Corrections Spokeswoman Ann Howard said the State Attorney’s Office requested to speak with an inmate and searched the inmate’s cell based on speculation that the letter may have originated at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, according to the Post.
Updated on Jan. 4 to include information from subsequent Palm Beach Post coverage.
