(Updated) Incendiary Packages Mailed to Gov’t Buildings in Maryland
- Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:33pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Update:
As we reported earlier, two packages ignited when they were opened Thursday at two state government buildings in Maryland, one of which was addressed to Gov. Martin O’Malley. Fortunately there were no serious injuries reported after two employees suffered minor burns when the packages ignited. Fire officials say there was no explosive material found in either package.
By Thursday evening, police authorities were also investigating a third suspicious package at a state office building in Baltimore, but there was no clear evidence that it was related to the others discovered early Thursday afternoon.
The first package was opened around 12:30 p.m. at the Jeffrey Building, a state office building located in downtown Annapolis, just blocks from the state capitol building. Just fifteen minutes later, an office of the Maryland Department of Transportation in Hanover reported a second suspicious package.
As a precautionary measure, other state office building mailrooms were shut down until all packages could be effectively screened. According to Fox News, the FBI’s joint terrorism task force is assisting local authorities with the investigation and the Department of Homeland Security is closely monitoring the situation.
———-
Two government buildings in Maryland have reportedly been rocked by explosions, leading to three injuries. Incidents have been reported at the state Department of Transportation building as well as the Maryland State House. A mailroom employee was injured while handling a package in the latter incident.
WJZ reports:
HANOVER, Md. (WJZ) — The Anne Arundel County Fire Department is responding to a report of an explosion in Hanover at the Department of Transportation headquarters.
Officials say it happened in the 7200-block of Corporate Center Drive around 1 p.m. Thursday, possibly on the fourth floor where the administration offices are.
Three people are injured.
It’s not clear what caused the explosion.
Meanwhile, a Maryland State House mailroom employee was injured Thursday afternoon while handling a package and the incident is being investigated by bomb squad officials, according to Annapolis city officials.
The Annapolis Fire Department’s bomb squad is investigating the incident and the state’s bomb squad and FBI officials were on their way to the Jeffrey Building on Francis Street in Annapolis, where the incident took place, as of 12:51 p.m., according to Phillip McGowan, a spokesman for Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen.
UPDATE:
WBAL reports both the explosions were the result of mailed packages:
A source has told 11 News that two packages exploded, one at the MDOT building and another at the Jeffrey Building on Francis Street in Annapolis.
The source said when the packages were opened in the mail rooms of the buildings, a small explosion happened.
State agencies have been advised to not deliver or open any mail.
UPDATE II:
The Assoicated Press is now reporting that the packages did not “explode” but rather gave off smoke and odor:
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Two packages sent to state government buildings 20 miles apart released smoke and odors when they were opened Thursday, but no one was seriously injured, officials said.
State officials initially said the packages exploded, but later said there were no blasts.
Maryland state police spokesman Greg Shipley said mailrooms at state offices across Maryland were being quarantined until it could be determined if any other packages had been sent.
One package was opened Thursday afternoon at the Jeffrey Building on Francis Street in downtown Annapolis and another at the Maryland Department of Transportation building in Hanover.
Shipley said the packages were small, about the size of a book.
“In both instances when the small packages were opened, there was a dissemination of smoke and a smell, that’s the best description we have right now,” he said.
Phil McGowan, a spokesman for the Annapolis mayor, said fire units were called to the mailroom of the Jeffrey Building after an employee there was injured.
The FBI’s joint terrorism task force was assisting in the investigation, the state police spokesman said, adding that the state fire marshal and a number of other law enforcement agencies also responded to the two scenes.
A Homeland Security Department official said the department was aware of the incidents and monitoring them.
New Jersey state police also said they had notified agencies across the Garden State about what had happened, saying it was part of normal protocol when such incidents occur. The New Jersey agencies were advised to be “extra vigilant” in handling mail and packages.
This is a breaking story. Updates may be added.
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Comments (86)
Plankchapel
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:09pmPudative President Obama, HELLO?! Our nation is not secure! Tell the TSA to look elsewhere for terrorists!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:08pmWithout further details I cannot begin to even speculate. I hope everybody involved who was hurt wasn’t terribly or permanently hurt.
Report Post »mrcritic
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:07pmNo peeg just pork.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:06pm112th congress, do not negotiate with terrorist.
Report Post »krenshau
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:03pmGet ready for the police state….I hope not.
Report Post »BlazingInSC
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:03pmIt won’t matter who did this because the media will find a way to spin this into a right-wing action…
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:23pmBut what if it is a right-wing nut. They DO exist. Just as left wing nut jobs exist. I’m a conservative and inherently appose violence. BUT- I can definitely see how people might get worked-up towards a particular government entity and even taking it too far. Everyone on this board should ask themselves what is their personal breaking point? At one point would you resort to violence to protect you and your families freedoms. Of course, I am just speculating about the motive to these two attacks in MD, but with all the voiced opinions I have read on this board, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the person was a conservative holding the belief that he/she were righteous in such actions.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:01pmIf they start with blaming a Tea-Party member or a Christian, or a crazy conservative , I swear my eyes will bleed. It could be a little man made crisis to disrupt the reading of the constitution or an attempt to make conservatives look like the extremeist that they actually are themselves. I hate to sound paranoid but I smell a rat.I have doubts that it could possibly be a terrorist attack . The progressives are desperate to cause some form of fear and distrust among the people. They call for violence nearly every day. I have to wonder what they have up their sleeves and what will happen next.
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:59pmPray that no one was hurt.
Report Post »828 Patriot
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:57pmBottom up, top down and inside out
Report Post »Sandy
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:55pmYou wait, MSM will be saying it’s Teaparty people.
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:54pmThis is only the beginning…I pray for us all.
Report Post »Flux
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:53pmBill Ayers. Or his shrew of a wife, no wonder he’s pissed.
Report Post »AngryMobOfOne
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:51pmWe should have known all that Constitution reading would lead to trouble.
Report Post »GPman
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:51pmHow in the world did the TSA miss these? More package groping ordered……
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:50pmJanuary 4, 2011 Nancy Pelosi signaled violence as an answer to the leftist aggression.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:50pmI doubt it’s al queda. If they couldn’t hit us on Christmas, they obviously don’t have the capability of hitting us.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:00pmI agree- I don’t think it is al queda, but not because they don’t have the power or scope. I think the attack is too weak and personal to be from Islamic extremists.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:50pmDefinitely the Tea Party.
Report Post »Alvin691
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:48pmHere come the left…
Report Post »JohnnyJT
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:47pmI have said this for over 40 years… So they want to ban guns, they better worry out for the Bombs.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:57pmThose bombs were the terrorist equivilent of squirt guns.
Report Post »Constitutional
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:46pmHas anyone seen Bill Ayers today?
Report Post »oldwhiteguy1950
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:19pmhim and bernadine dohrn were seen getting off a plane this morning in Bethesda
Report Post »IStill
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 6:10pmHa!!
Report Post »Quad-rip-legic
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:45pmTea Party
silveracer44
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:55pmI‘m sure they’ll try to spin it that way somehow.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:41pmWonder if it is a local, disgruntled person or the peaceful religion of Islam.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:46pmOh I am sure it is the latter.
Report Post »TennesseeConservative
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:49pmEither way it is Bush’s fault.
Report Post »Sergio Q
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 4:53pmwake up people!!!!!!
islam IS NOT NOT NOT a religon!! it is purely and simply put, A Political Stance that engulfs all aspects in the life of thoes it rules, including/via a sudo-religion that really is the oldest , constant form of brain washing via the babbelings of hate , violance & envy tought through the koran (muhamad was not a profet ,but a warlord , rapeist ,childmolester ,muderer and just an all around twisted fuhhkurr …no respect offered to islam in any way ,shape or form from me)
~As far as who/what is/was behind this I will hold comment(s) & accusations till more intel. is available… the usual suspects is but one list and now-ah-dayz the list-o-new players can grow qickly………..
Report Post »Crewbot
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:40pmNot to worry. It’s a man-made disaster not a terror attack.
Report Post »Pyx
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:38pmThe Amish are creating trouble again … or perhaps not.
Report Post »Elrik68
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:46pmAmish Phobia…. Lock this one up..
Report Post »ltb
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:10pmHa ha
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 4:22pmLet the games BEGIN, please light the torch!
Hate to say I told you all so, not that it matters a whole lot, or that you care I said it, and everyone here basically knows it would happen anyway…hope you’re already prepared people, otherwise, it will be either a very short haul for you!
Report Post »handsoffmystuff
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:37pmguess someone ordered bacon there too
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:43pmOh gosh, forgive me but that cracked me up. :)
Report Post »Curator_JDR
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:45pmIs there any doubt America is under attack?. I wonder if it was a Progressive (communist, socialist, anarchist) or Islamist. Maybe a combo cell. What will Eric Holder do? Can repubs put pressure on the DOJ now?
Laugh your butt off as the evil plot to take over “Hairmerica” is exposed and stopped: http://www.marcrubin.com/hairmerica.ivnu
Report Post »silveracer44
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:47pmI honestly don’t think this was Muslims. They’ll probably try to blame it on “right-wing extremists” or something.
Report Post »silveracer44
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 2:50pmAnd the buildings weren’t “rocked by explosions” either. That’s hyperbolic, even Fox News said it was a small explosion or flame. No serious injuries have been reported.
Report Post »taskmaster78
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:03pmYep it looks like the work of those evil doers, that group of hate mongers yep you guess it tea partiers. Or maybe the boiler had a delay fire and just blew off.
Report Post »click4cheapandeasyweb
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:16pmFunny but probably not the cause of this one. Sooner than later I have been expecting some tragic event happening whereby human life has been taken, then the blame is pointed to Tea-Party influence or some nonsense like that.
Considering the loud statement we made in November and with the swearing-in yesterday I expect this to be progressives on the attack. Progressives should NEVER be trusted.
Report Post »benrush
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:19pmgood timing and delivery!
Report Post »mimitweetin
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 3:55pmRofl!
Report Post »oldguy48
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 4:17pmAre they attempting to set up a “Reichstag” type incident?
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 4:21pm@CURATOR_JDR I’m tired of Anarchism being lumped in with the left. Anarchy is more of a far right ideologically. Sure, could it be used to springboard into Communism, yes, since Anarchy is traditionally just a transitional form of Government rather than a sustainable one. You cannot have a forced socialist country without big government enforcing socialism. They cannot force socialism if we are under Anarchy as there would be no government to enforce the socialism!
Most of the chaotic and negative forms for Anarchy that most of you have in your heads come from disgruntled youth that use Anarchy as a way to “stick it to the man” but realistically, Anarchy is just the furthest extreme of Libertarianism.
Report Post »silveracer44
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 4:38pmAmericanSoldier – Prime example of the FALSE left/right paradigm. There are anarcho-syndicalists and anarcho-capitalists.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 4:42pmWho gave the left sole authority on anarchy? It is called ‘without the rule of law’, so anyone could be an anarchist, however, the left is calling for the bottom up, top down, inside out thing, so they are the ones actively calling for it in public, not to mention the NBP calling for a ‘black state’, and the unions calling for collectivism, no this is no call from the right, but definately from the left! IMHO
Report Post »getalong
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 5:24pmATTN: BLAZERS ATTN: BLAZERS
Report Post »I URGE YOU TO GO TO THE MPLS. STAR/TRIBUNE (1-6-11) AND READ THE UNBLIEVABLE STORY OF A SOMALI GUY (Liban Hussein) WHO WAS SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. OUTRAGEOUS THAT NOT ONLY THIS KIND OF SMUGGLING GOING ON BUT THAT IT IS BEING SUPPORTED BY SOME STUPID ASS F…KING LIBERAL IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FEW CONSERVATIVES LEFT IN LOONY MN BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH “DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS” Mark Dayton for gov. God help us all!!!!!!!!!!! Did you know that MN is the Somali capital of the country….yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!