Police on Thursday afternoon reportedly closed off the neighborhood of Karen Handel, a Republican running for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, after letters containing a “white powdery substance” were found delivered to at least five homes.
Powder-Filled Letters With Threatening Notes Shut Down Georgia Republican’s Neighborhood https://t.co/KoimEUTyX4 via @BrentScher pic.twitter.com/MW2N09lF3m
— Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) June 15, 2017
Breaking: Cops going mailbox to mailbox in #KarenHandel's neighborhood after "suspicious package" found near her home. pic.twitter.com/ZE7ND0Mtm1
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) June 15, 2017
Breaking: #KarenHandel says she also received the letter with the powdery substance at her home. pic.twitter.com/VYwrMy7ZYz
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) June 15, 2017
One of Handel’s neighbors posted a photo of the letter she received to Facebook, writing: “Karen Handel lives in my neighborhood. These were distributed today to the neighbors. There was a white powdery substance in the envelope. Police have been called.”
Here is content of letter neighbors say went out in Handel's neighborhood. "Several" went out, says a woman in hoodhttps://t.co/frQGdICBip pic.twitter.com/B0BWku7eEU
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) June 15, 2017
Handel issued a statement soon afterward.
Yikes: Karen Handel says packages w/ "threatening letters and a suspicious substance" delivered to her home, her neighbors. #GA06 pic.twitter.com/Rjqz1PPW9P
— Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) June 15, 2017
It appears that at least one Atlanta TV station, FOX 5, also received one of the suspicious packages:
Emergency response at @FOX5Atlanta for a suspicious letter. Contained unknown powder and anti-Trump/Handel letter. https://t.co/iEFrXfWvKi pic.twitter.com/NGtLXUgSWp
— Mike McClain FOX 35 (@mikemcclainfox) June 15, 2017
WATCH LIVE: Emergency response at FOX 5 Atlanta after suspicious package delivered to station.https://t.co/fzInpONsvF pic.twitter.com/KAahNrh8ml
— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) June 15, 2017
FOX 5 reports that the potential threat was contained:
The package contained a white powdery substance inside a clear plastic envelope. The package also contained a document with anti-Donald Trump and anti-Karen Handel language.
The package and its contents were secured in a containment box after being opened. A hazardous materials team was brought in to investigate. The powdery substance inside the package has not been identified.
Potential threat contained here. Full story below. https://t.co/CZcTHCSTVq
— Russ Spencer (@russfox5) June 15, 2017
The election for the 6th District is Tuesday. Handel is running against Democrat Jon Ossoff.
* * *
Update:
Commentary editor John Podhoretz is certain the letter is a fake. We’ll update this post if and when authorities provide further information.
Total fake. Done to discredit Ossoff. https://t.co/UpRpSin7Xg
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) June 15, 2017
This letter is a fraud. https://t.co/pngMXmSKSy
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) June 15, 2017
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Update:
Fraud or not, authorities are not messing around. Police, the FBI, and hazmat crews are still on the scene as of 10:30 p.m., and neighbors have been instructed to shelter in place.
DeKalb Haz-Mat testing suspicious powder at @FOX5Atlanta now #fox5atl pic.twitter.com/zm6Arnq5Z2
— Mike McClain FOX 35 (@mikemcclainfox) June 15, 2017
FBI, police, hazmat crews on scene on Karen Handels street. 5 homes get letter w white substance, as did @FOX5Atlanta today.FBI investigates pic.twitter.com/x4ygm4CIj5
— Jaclyn Schultz (@JaclynFOX5Vegas) June 15, 2017
5 neighbors including Karen Handel get threat with white substance. Woman who opened letter was medically examined @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/MZRi13SwgZ
— Jaclyn Schultz (@JaclynFOX5Vegas) June 15, 2017
Neighbor tells me he found one of 5 suspicious letters mailed to neighbors and Karen Handel. All from SC, as well as one sent 2 @fox5atlanta pic.twitter.com/FtwS4afDqB
— Jaclyn Schultz (@JaclynFOX5Vegas) June 15, 2017
FBI investigates "white powdery substance" found at Karen Handels Roswell home and 4 other homes. Area shut down since 130 pm @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/C5oiuZEZ6w
— Jaclyn Schultz (@JaclynFOX5Vegas) June 16, 2017
BREAKING: FBI determined 1 envelope out of 5 mailed to Karen Handel and neighbors contained baking soda. 1 more to be tested @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/02WTcrE4sZ
— Jaclyn Schultz (@JaclynFOX5Vegas) June 16, 2017
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