Mail Sent To Pentagon Tests Positive For Ricin: Report

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: Gallagher reports that the envelopes were addressed to Defense Secretary James Mattis and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson.

UPDATE 12:56 p.m.: Gallagher reports that there were two suspicious packages, and they were found in the Pentagon mail yesterday. They initially tested positive for ricin, and all mail delivered to the Pentagon are under quarantine.

Original story:

ARLINGTON, VA -- The FBI is investigating after a piece of mail that has tested positive for ricin was delivered to the Pentagon on Monday, according to a report.

CNN correspondent Dianne Gallagher tweeted at 12:07 p.m. that a "piece of mail delivered to the Pentagon mail facility has initially tested positive for ricin," citing to two U.S. defense officials.

"The mail facility is a separate building on the Pentagon grounds," Gallagher added. "The piece of mail never entered the Pentagon building."

The FBI and Pentagon Law Enforcement are responding and further testing will be done, she said.

Ricin, which is produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant, is a highly potent toxin. A tiny dusting of purified ricin powder is enough to kill an adult human.

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A piece of mail delivered to the Pentagon mail facility has initially tested positive for ricin, two US defense officials tell @barbarastarrcnn @rabrowne75.

The mail facility is a separate building on the Pentagon grounds. The piece of mail never entered the Pentagon building.
— Dianne Gallagher (@DianneG) October 2, 2018

(Photo by Andy Dunaway/USAF via Getty Images)