Seven Hospitalized After Suspicious Package Opened at US Base
Seven people were briefly hospitalized after a suspicious package containing white powder was opened at Joint Base Andrews, a military base near Washington, D.C., known as the home of Air Force One, the presidential jet.
According to US media, a HAZMAT team conducted initial tests on the substance and determined it was not hazardous, though the investigation remains ongoing.
The individuals taken to the hospital on Thursday have since been released. Fox News reported that some of them experienced headaches following the incident.
“Joint Base Andrews responded to an incident here today after an individual opened a suspicious package,”
the base said in a statement to US outlets. As a safety measure, the affected building and an adjacent one 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 the Office of Special Investigations,”
the statement added. CNN, citing sources familiar with the case, mentioned that the package also contained political propaganda materials.
Joint Base Andrews, located in Maryland just outside Washington, serves as a key facility for senior US government officials.
Author’s Summary
Seven people were hospitalized after a suspicious package with white powder and political materials was found at Joint Base Andrews, later deemed nonhazardous.