Letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to US senators and election offices - BBC
Federal authorities are investigating suspicious letters containing white powder sent to multiple US senators and state election offices. The incidents occurred shortly before the midterm elections, prompting security concerns for public officials.
Why it matters
These threats highlight the increasing security risks and hostile political climate facing election administrators and government officials.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Grace Eliza Goodwin Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Federal authorities say they are investigating "potentially hazardous" letters containing "suspicious substances" that have been sent to congressional and state election offices around the US.
The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) said they were trying to trace the "suspicious mailings", some of which were intercepted before they were received.
Authorities declined to say how many offices had been targeted, but several secretaries of state and congressional offices reported receiving the letters.
Coming just weeks before the US midterm elections, it echoes previous security scares involving suspicious mail.
The suspicious letters were sent to at least five Democratic senators' offices, most of which were intercepted before delivery.
They include California's Alex Padilla, Connecticut's Chris Murphy and New York's Kirsten Gillibrand, the senators' offices confirmed to the BBC.
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