(Updated) Incendiary Packages Mailed to Gov’t Buildings in Maryland

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.

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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.