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Breaking: Iowa Capitol locked down after mysterious powder found in letter to state representative
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Candidate
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| Contributor | Craverguy |
| Last Edited | Craverguy Apr 03, 2012 05:17pm |
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| Category | News |
| Author | Jason Noble |
| News Date | Tuesday, April 3, 2012 10:45:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Work in the Iowa House has ground to a halt this afternoon after a state lawmaker received an envelope containing an unknown powder.
Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad received the letter today and apparently opened it on the House floor. The document inside contained threatening language as well as the powder, said House Speaker Kraig Paulsen.
Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, is now sitting in a vestibule area of the Capitol, and a postal inspector is on the way to do a field test on the powder substance.
“Apparently they can make whatever determinations at that point, and then we’ll know,” Paulsen said.
Pending the inspector’s arrival, lawmakers and staff are milling around the House chamber, after state police recommended the room and building not be evacuated. The House ceased business at 3:47 p.m. in response to the incident.
“We’re all just kind of hanging loose,” Paulsen said.
Along with Abdul-Samad in the small vestibule linking the House chamber to the second-floor rotunda is his clerk, Mike McRae, Rep. Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Dubuque, Paulsen and House Chief Clerk Charlie Smithson. Smithson is holding a plastic bag containing the letter.
Rep. Kevin Koester, R-Ankeny, said he was sitting near Abdul-Samad after the letter had been opened. He said he saw the substance — a white powder — spilled on McRae’s pants. It looked like flour or powdered sugar, he said.
Update at 4:44 p.m.: A fire truck and ambulance have arrived, and House Speaker Kraig Paulsen told the chamber that “haz mat” was on its way and that the postal inspector has asked everyone to remain in the chamber until a field test on the substance is completed.
Update at 4:55 p.m.: A Highway Patrol official just came on the Capitol-wide intercom system asked visitors to remain in the building until further notice. |
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