Posted 7/22/2004 6:59 PM Updated 7/22/2004 7:12 PM
Police seal building housing Kerry campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — Police sealed off the office building that houses Sen. John Kerry's headquarters on Thursday after a package with white powder was opened by campaign staff.
Kerry, D-Mass., and his vice presidential running mate, Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., were hundreds of miles away, campaigning their way toward next week's Democratic National Convention.
"An envelope was opened and white powder fell out," said campaign spokeswoman Debra DeShong. "On the recommendation of the Secret Service, we contacted the local police who are here investigating."
The discovery of the package prompted authorities to order a fleet of emergency vehicles to converge on the location, and personnel in biohazard suits entered the building.
Mike Sellitto, a deputy D.C. fire chief, said they had, "a letter that we're running some tests on up there" on the eight floor.
Sellitto said they were conducting a field screening that takes about 15 minutes, with more extensive tests planned. He said some preliminary tests had been conducted but declined to say what the results were.
DeShong had no further information, but other witnesses said the envelope was opened on the eighth floor, which houses the campaign's fund-raising and human resources departments along with a financial company unrelated to the Kerry campaign.
"There is a suspicious package found on one of the floors of the building," said an internal office e-mail distributed to campaign aides. "Emergency services, fire, police and hazmat are on site. Please be advised if you leave, you will not be allowed to re-enter until authorities have given the all clear."
Kerry aides continued with their work throughout the incident, though the building's air conditioning was shut down for at least 30 minutes.
Several people held up a "Firefighters for Kerry" sign in a sixth-floor window, smiled and waved to people on the street. Three firetrucks were at the scene.
Alan Etter, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C., Fire Department, told reporters the package was a letter. He said he had no additional details and did not know what had triggered the concern of the authorities.
Streets around the building were closed to traffic, and firetrucks were parked alongside the building, which also houses several businesses not connected to the Kerry campaign.
Judith Sandalow, whose office is one floor below the Kerry campaign's, said this is the second time hazmat crews have been called to the building this year. The first time was shortly after the Kerry headquarters opened at the site, she said.
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