The delivery of a suspicious package to a US military base in Maryland has sparked concern after multiple individuals fell ill and required hospitalization, as reported by CNN on Thursday.
According to a statement from Joint Base Andrews, situated just outside of Washington, D.C., a building on the base was evacuated following the opening of the suspicious package by an individual. Several individuals were subsequently taken to the Malcolm Grove Medical Center on the base for treatment.
In response to the situation, the building and connecting building were evacuated as a precaution, and a perimeter was established around the area, as mentioned in the statement from the base. Joint Base Andrews’ first responders were dispatched to the scene, determined there were no immediate threats, and transferred the scene to the Office of Special Investigations for further investigation.
Reportedly, the package contained an unknown white powder, based on information from two sources familiar with the investigation. Despite an initial field test conducted by the HAZMAT team that did not detect anything hazardous, the investigation is ongoing, as per CNN’s sources.
The US Department of Defense and Joint Base Andrews have not yet provided a response to a request for comment from Reuters regarding the incident. As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to ensure the safety and security of all individuals involved.
