On Friday morning, the Chicago Fire Department’s hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team was called to the Kluczynski Federal Building after a suspicious package was received. Emergency and rapid-response crews arrived at the building at 230 S. Dearborn Street at about 8:30 a.m.
Chicago Fire Department officials said the report of a suspicious envelope or letter came in a few minutes before 8 a.m. The area was secured, and operations ended at 9:11 a.m. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a building employee had found an unopened envelope containing a loose substance.
“The employee left the room. No medical symptoms indicating exposure to a hazardous substance were observed. Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers arrived on the scene along with the Chicago Fire Department’s HAZMAT team and police. The area was checked, the envelope was secured, and the FBI was notified,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.
The FBI confirmed it is investigating but did not provide any additional information. Reports of suspicious letters containing suspicious materials have become more frequent over the past week. On Friday, Oct. 16, an envelope containing white powder was sent to the office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, in a building next to the seat of Chicago’s city government. Last Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Mike Quigley and Brad Schneider received suspicious packages at their district offices in Skokie, Chicago and Lincolnshire. For those lawmakers, it was the second time in a week that a suspicious package had required a response from hazardous materials specialists.
Federal authorities are investigating letters and packages containing white powder that have been sent since last week to election boards and the offices of elected officials, all as the Nov. 3 midterm elections approach.
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Source: Polski.FM
