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'Powdery Substance' Delivered To Moulton's Downtown Salem Office: Police

Halloween visitors were asked to avoid the area of Front Street on Friday morning.

| Updated
Salem Halloween visitors were asked to avoid a downtown area typically bustling with tourists because of a police investigation on Friday. (Scott Souza/Patch)

SALEM, MA — An "unknown powdery substance" delivered to the Salem office of U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton caused police to urge visitors to stay away from the downtown area during the height of the Halloween tourist season on Friday.

Police said they responded to Moulton's office on Front Street late Friday morning after a report of a "suspicious parcel" delivered through the U.S. Postal Service.

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Police said the parcel contained the powdery substance, which was removed from the building and sent to the State Crime Lab for analysis.

"This incident is similar in nature to recent reports of suspicious packages being sent to election and congressional offices nationwide," Salem police said.

The area opened back up to visitors early Friday afternoon after both police and the city had urged them to avoid it during the noon hour.

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