Several airmen at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland were hospitalized Thursday after opening a package containing a "suspicious white powder," according to a CNN report on Friday.
In a statement, the base — located just outside Washington, DC — said a building was evacuated after an individual opened the package. "As a precaution, the building and a nearby facility were evacuated, and a cordon was established around the area," the statement said. "Joint Base Andrews emergency responders arrived at the scene, determined there were no immediate threats, and handed the area over to the Office of Special Investigations. An investigation is underway."
Several people were taken to Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center on the base after exposure to the unknown white substance, two sources familiar with the probe said.
One of the sources told CNN that an initial test by a hazardous materials team found nothing dangerous, though the investigation continues. The hazmat team left the scene Thursday evening.
The extent of the illness reported among those near the package has not been disclosed. The room where the envelope was opened, located in the Air National Guard Readiness Center building, remains sealed off. Investigators believe the parcel also included political material, the two sources added.
Joint Base Andrews regularly serves as the departure and arrival point for senior officials including the president, vice president, and cabinet secretaries on official business. US President Donald Trump was at the base on Wednesday. The Air National Guard Readiness Center functions as a liaison between the National Guard Bureau and Air National Guard units across US states and territories.
