Letters with suspicious substances sent to US election offices

US federal authorities are investigating "potentially hazardous" letters containing "suspicious substances" that were sent to congressional and state election offices across the country. The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) announced the probe. It comes only weeks before the US midterm elections, which will decide the balance of power in Congress.

The agencies are trying to trace the origin of the mailings, some of which were intercepted before reaching their recipients. Officials did not say how many offices were targeted, but several secretaries of state and congressional offices have reported receiving the letters.

Individual cases

The Oklahoma State Election Board and the Louisiana secretary of state both said this week that their offices had received letters containing white powder. The Louisiana office was evacuated on Tuesday after a staff member opened the package, but it has since reopened because law enforcement found no evidence of harmful substances.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office was the intended recipient of a letter containing white powder, but USPIS intercepted it. Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, was also sent a letter with a suspicious substance, which was intercepted before it reached his office, according to his spokesman.

The New York State Capitol in Albany and the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne also received suspicious packages, according to emergency responder scanner feeds reviewed by the BBC.

Earlier incidents

Ahead of the 2024 election, election officials in 17 states received suspicious packages. A year earlier, suspicious envelopes, some laced with fentanyl, were sent to election offices in at least five states.

In a statement on Thursday, the FBI and USPIS said they would continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens.