FBI investigates suspicious powder sent to newspapers

By The Associated Press

The FBI is investigating envelopes containing suspicious powder that were sent to several newspapers in the last several days. 

Among them was an envelope addressed simply to The News that was opened by a Detroit Newspapers' stockroom clerk Tuesday, The Detroit News reported in a Wednesday story. 

The envelope included a brown granular substance and a letter that claimed it was "snail poison," said Richard Karstensen, purchasing manager for the agency that handles business operations for The News and the Detroit Free Press. 

Three News employees -- including Karstensen -- were exposed to the substance, but did not suffer any ill effects or undergo any treatment. 

Tests hadn't been completed, but the material wasn't believed to be harmful, FBI Special Agent David Brooks said. 

The letter received by The News bore a return address of an Arlington, Va., post office box and a Sacramento, Calif. -- as did some of the other letters, said FBI spokesman Jeff Tarpinian in Omaha, the field office leading the investigation. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Charlotte Observer received letters Monday, officials at both newspapers said. The FBI was investigating. 

No injuries have been reported. 

"We always take something like this seriously," said Peter Ridder, publisher of the Observer. "But it's an indication there is some kook out there trying to frighten people." 

The Cleveland Plain Dealer received a similar envelope Saturday, but the substance turned out to be onion powder and other seasonings. 

A day earlier, The Des Moines Register received a package, prompting the evacuation of 70 employees. Tests confirmed the substance in that letter was the chemical Metaldehyde, possibly from snail poison.