Birmingham, AL – Envelopes containing white powder have prompted at least seven anthrax scares across Alabama.
The FBI said Monday five letters were sent to the offices of senators or congressmen in Mobile and Montgomery. They were addressed to the offices of U.S. Reps. Jo Bonner of Mobile and Bobby Bright of Montgomery, plus U.S. Sens. Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby.
The federal courthouses in Anniston and Birmingham also were closed following the discovery of powder in envelopes or letters there.
Tests have shown the powder wasn't anthrax, but officials haven't revealed exactly what it is.
An FBI spokeswoman in Mobile, Angela Tobon, says the letters delivered to offices in Montgomery, Mobile and Foley are believed to have come from the same source.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)