FBI Investigating White Powder Substance Found at St. Paul Courthouse

Ralph S. Boelter, Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis FBI office, today, announced the FBI is investigating the presence of a suspicious white powder substance that was found earlier this afternoon at the federal courthouse in St. Paul. A federal court employee opened some mail items in the mailroom of the courthouse. Upon returning to the employee’s desk, the employee observed white powder on the employee’s hands, which is believed to have come from one of the opened mail items. The employee then notified the United States Marshal’s Service, which began evacuating the building as a precaution. The Federal Protective Service is responsible for the security of the building. Three employees were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul as a precaution.

The St. Paul Fire Department Hazmat Unit responded to the scene and took relevant items to the Minnesota Department of Health Laboratory in St. Paul. The FBI is investigating to determine the source of the letters or packages in which the white powder substance may have originated. The results of the laboratory analysis of the white powder will have a bearing on the scope of the investigation. It is not known when the results of the analysis will be available.