Seven Hospitalized After Suspicious Package Opened at US Military Base
Seven people were briefly hospitalized after opening a suspicious package containing a white powder at Joint Base Andrews, the military base near Washington, DC, home to Air Force One, the presidential jet, US media reported.
The CNN television network reported that initial tests by a HAZMAT team found the substance was not hazardous, though an investigation is ongoing. All individuals taken to the hospital on Thursday were subsequently released.
Fox News noted that some of those exposed reported headaches.
CNN, citing sources familiar with the investigation, stated the package also included what was described as “political propaganda.”
“Joint Base Andrews responded to an incident here today after an individual opened a suspicious package,” the base said in a statement to US media. “As a precaution, the building and connecting building were evacuated.
Joint Base Andrews first responders were dispatched to the scene, determined there were no immediate threats, and have turned the scene over to Office of Special Investigations.”
Joint Base Andrews, located in Maryland just a short drive from Washington, serves senior US government officials.