MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen on Friday confirmed that his office received a suspicious package Thursday afternoon, prompting a swift response from multiple state and federal law enforcement agencies.
This comes as authorities investigate similar mailings sent to election offices in other states and members of Congress.
In a statement released Friday, Allen's office said the package was received Thursday afternoon, prompting an immediate response from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alabama National Guard Civil Support Team and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Allen said the Alabama National Guard's Civil Support Team conducted extensive testing of the package before the FBI took custody of it.
"No dangerous or hazardous substance was identified on or in the package," Allen's office said.
The incident remains under active investigation, with Allen's office declining further comment and directing additional inquiries to the FBI.
The incident comes amid a nationwide investigation reported by The Associated Press involving suspicious letters and packages mailed to election officials and congressional offices in multiple states.
The AP reports that federal authorities are investigating mailings containing unidentified substances, including white powder, that have been delivered to or intercepted before reaching government offices.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Thursday they were working with law enforcement agencies nationwide to identify those responsible for the mailings.
Some of the packages have prompted evacuations of election offices, including facilities in Louisiana and Oklahoma, while authorities in Ohio reported intercepting a package containing white powder addressed to the secretary of state's office.
On the eve of the midterm election on Nov. 3, election officials in several other states, including Wisconsin, Idaho and Florida, have also reported receiving suspicious mail or having packages intercepted before delivery.
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