By Phillip Rawls, Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Suspicious letters containing powdery substances addressed to governors were intercepted in at least six states on Monday, but tests indicated the powder in five of them wasn't harmful.
The letters were reported in Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana and Rhode Island. Though no injuries were immediately reported, the mailings disrupted state governments in a few of the states, forcing some evacuations and testing for workers who might have been exposed.
Preliminary tests found the powders sent to Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana and Rhode Island were not harmful. The Missouri letter never made it to state offices, and test results on it were expected Tuesday.
Alabama officials said the FBI was working with police agencies in each state to investigate the letters. An FBI spokeswoman in Washington referred questions about the investigation to the bureau's offices in each state.
Alabama's public safety director, Christopher Murphy, said "my gut is there may be more" letters still moving through the mail system.
Mailroom workers in the basement of Alabama's Capitol noticed the letter with an unidentified ingredient about 12:30 p.m. and notified police. Federal and state authorities closed off the street behind the building and set up a decontamination tent outside.
Murphy would not say where the letter originated or whether it contained any political message. The six governors addressed by the letters are split politically: four Republicans and two Democrats.