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Secret Service intercepts suspicious envelope sent to Trump | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A suspicious envelope that was addressed to President Donald Trump was intercepted by the Secret Service on Monday, US authorities say. | |
The envelope did not enter the White House, according to the authorities. | |
Two other packages suspected of containing the deadly poison ricin were found at a Pentagon mail screening facility and sent for FBI analysis. | |
Those envelopes - one of which was addressed to Defence Secretary James Mattis - were also found on Monday. | |
Mr Mattis was away in Paris at the time. | Mr Mattis was away in Paris at the time. |
The screening area is not inside the main building, which contains offices of high-ranking military officials. | |
The facility is now under quarantine, defence officials said on Tuesday. | |
The Secret Service said in a statement that the envelope addressed to the president "was not received at the White House, nor did it ever enter the White House". | |
It said it was "working jointly with our law enforcement partners to fully investigate this matter". | |
The two packages sent to the Department of Defence were detected by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, according to the Pentagon. | |
All mail delivered on Monday is currently under quarantine, and "poses no threat to Pentagon personnel", a spokesman said. | |
The other envelope was addressed to Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson. | |
Up to 25,000 people go to work at the Pentagon every day. | Up to 25,000 people go to work at the Pentagon every day. |
Ricin is made from the leftover by-products of castor oil. | Ricin is made from the leftover by-products of castor oil. |
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "It would take a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people." | According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "It would take a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people." |
The federal agency said it can be manufactured into a weapon in the form of a powder, mist or pellet. | The federal agency said it can be manufactured into a weapon in the form of a powder, mist or pellet. |
Also on Tuesday, two people at Republican Senator Ted Cruz's office in Houston, Texas, were taken to hospital after coming into contact with a "white powdery substance", officials say. | Also on Tuesday, two people at Republican Senator Ted Cruz's office in Houston, Texas, were taken to hospital after coming into contact with a "white powdery substance", officials say. |
The Houston Fire Department tweeted that a hazardous materials crew is on scene at the evacuated office building. | The Houston Fire Department tweeted that a hazardous materials crew is on scene at the evacuated office building. |
Houston Police said they were taking over the investigation into the letter, which comes as Mr Cruz is locked in a fierce election battle against Democrat Beto O'Rourke. | Houston Police said they were taking over the investigation into the letter, which comes as Mr Cruz is locked in a fierce election battle against Democrat Beto O'Rourke. |
A spokeswoman for Mr Cruz told the Associated Press that no staff were affected by the incident. | A spokeswoman for Mr Cruz told the Associated Press that no staff were affected by the incident. |