Officials Investigate Packages Containing White Powder Sent to Alaska Delegation Offices

Photo by Lori Townsend, APRN - Anchorage

The state offices for Alaska’s Congressional Delegation received suspicious packages Monday. In downtown Anchorage, the fourth floor of the building where Congressman Don Young has an office was evacuated while authorities investigated a box that contained white powder.

Photo by Lori Townsend, APRN - Anchorage

Luke Miller is a spokesperson for the Congressman and read a statement about the incident.

In Fairbanks, the office of Senator Mark Begich also received a box containing a white powder. Begich spokeswoman Julie Hasquet says a staff member there opened the package in a plastic bag. She says security officials with the Senate advise following that procedure as a safety precaution.

Hasquet says federal officials have taken over the investigation. She says the box was sent from someone in Arizona. The staff member who opened the box is being evaluated.

Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Fairbank’s office also received a suspicious package today. Federal authorities seized it before anyone in her office opened it.

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Annie Feidt is the broadcast managing editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at afeidt@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Annie here

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