Reports from media outlets indicate the presence of an unknown white powder.
A number of individuals became unwell at a significant US airbase, known for housing Air Force One, following the delivery of a package believed to contain an undisclosed white powder.
Officials stated that the event at Joint Base Andrews (JBA) in Maryland on Thursday led to the evacuation of two interconnected structures.
A spokesperson for JBA informed the media that “multiple individuals experienced illness” after someone opened a “suspicious package” received at the base.
In a precautionary measure, the building involved was evacuated and sealed off, with HAZMAT teams inspecting the site and finding no immediate danger.
The package’s contents have not been revealed by officials. Nevertheless, CNN, referencing two sources with knowledge of the inquiry, reported that the delivery included an unknown white powder along with political documents.
According to CNN, an initial field test by a HAZMAT team reportedly found no hazardous substances, but the material’s exact composition is still unconfirmed.
Joint Base Andrews serves as the primary base for Air Force One and other aircraft utilized by high-ranking government officials. Former US President Donald Trump had visited the facility the day prior, though no link to the current incident has been suggested.
The investigation into this occurrence has been handed over to the Office of Special Investigations.
The United States has encountered previous alarms regarding suspicious powders sent through the mail. The most prominent instance was in 2001, when letters containing anthrax were mailed to media organizations and members of Congress, resulting in five deaths and 17 infections. The individuals responsible have never been identified.
Consequently, authorities have maintained elevated vigilance concerning occasional reports or threats of envelopes containing powder sent to government facilities, election centers, and military sites, with the majority of these instances turning out to be hoaxes or non-dangerous materials.