White powder found in 8 federal offices across Northwest
SEATTLE - Envelopes with white powder were found Monday in eight federal buildings in seven different cities across Washington, Idaho and Utah, prompting two evacuations, FBI officials said. No injuries were reported.
The envelopes were found at a federal building in Seattle, Internal Revenue Service offices in Bellevue, Wash.; and an FBI office in Spokane, Wash., Special Agent Frederick Gutt said.
In Idaho, FBI spokeswoman Debbie Dujanovic Bertram said envelopes with powdery substance were found in the U.S. Attorney's office and an FBI office in Coeur d'Alene, an FBI office in Pocatello and the U.S. Attorney's office in Boise.
Bertram said the FBI office in Salt Lake City received a letter with a substance as well.
In Bellevue, police evacuated the IRS building soon after an employee in the criminal investigations department opened a letter with the powdery substance Monday afternoon, police officer Carla Iafrate said.
The employee said she didn't feel any ill effects at the time, but then later thought her throat was scratchy. She and another worker were taken to Overlake Hospital as a precaution.
The U.S. Attorney's office in Boise also was evacuated as a precaution.
Gutt said the FBI has collected the substances for testing. Bertram said field tests in Idaho indicated the substances weren't hazardous.
KXLY-TV in Spokane reports that all of the postmarks on the envelopes were from Spokane.
The FBI is investigating if the incidents are linked. Gutt said it would be "logical" they would be.
"It is obviously disruptive and taken seriously," Gutt said.
The FBI says whoever is responsible could be charged with threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction which, with a conviction, could carry up to a life sentence in prison.
The envelopes were found at a federal building in Seattle, Internal Revenue Service offices in Bellevue, Wash.; and an FBI office in Spokane, Wash., Special Agent Frederick Gutt said.
In Idaho, FBI spokeswoman Debbie Dujanovic Bertram said envelopes with powdery substance were found in the U.S. Attorney's office and an FBI office in Coeur d'Alene, an FBI office in Pocatello and the U.S. Attorney's office in Boise.
Bertram said the FBI office in Salt Lake City received a letter with a substance as well.
In Bellevue, police evacuated the IRS building soon after an employee in the criminal investigations department opened a letter with the powdery substance Monday afternoon, police officer Carla Iafrate said.
The employee said she didn't feel any ill effects at the time, but then later thought her throat was scratchy. She and another worker were taken to Overlake Hospital as a precaution.
The U.S. Attorney's office in Boise also was evacuated as a precaution.
Gutt said the FBI has collected the substances for testing. Bertram said field tests in Idaho indicated the substances weren't hazardous.
KXLY-TV in Spokane reports that all of the postmarks on the envelopes were from Spokane.
The FBI is investigating if the incidents are linked. Gutt said it would be "logical" they would be.
"It is obviously disruptive and taken seriously," Gutt said.
The FBI says whoever is responsible could be charged with threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction which, with a conviction, could carry up to a life sentence in prison.
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