Investigators have given the all-clear after they say a suspicious package sent to the federal courthouse in Atlanta was a hoax.
Channel 2’s Richard Elliot reported as first responders rushed to the scene of the Richard Russell federal office building Friday, including Atlanta Fire Rescue, Grady Hospital EMTs and the U.S. Marshal’s Office, Rahshad Miller was just trying to make a delivery inside.
“It was just a whole lot of ambulances and fire trucks,” Miller said.
Atlanta Fire Rescue confirmed someone sent an 11 x 14 envelope full of some kind of crushed powder to one of the offices inside the federal office building.
When workers opened it up, six of them were exposed.
Dozens of first responders arrived on the scene, and in full hazmat suits they entered the building.
“We were able to immediately isolate the area, but we can share that the six people who were exposed to that and they immediately sheltered in place,” said Anare Holmes with Atlanta Fire Rescue.
It didn’t take long for those emergency crews to determine the suspicious powder wasn’t anything more than a hoax. The U.S. Marshal’s Office confirmed they have a pretty good idea who sent it, though they didn’t release specifics.
Miller was glad to get the all-clear and finish making his delivery.
“I mean it’s awful. They should, you know, get punished for that too,” he said.
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Elliot reported live from the investigation on Channel 2 Action News at Noon as Atlanta fire, police and federal agencies responded to the courthouse on Ted Turner Drive. Atlanta fire said that no one was hurt.
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