ANCHORAGE-This afternoon the offices of our state delegates, Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich, and Don Young, received suspicious packages in the mail.

The first package was reported in Fairbanks, at the Federal Building, where each of the delegates maintain an office. A staffer from the offices of Mark Begich attempted to open the priority package mailed from Arizona, allowing a white powdery substance to spill out. The office promptly turned over the package to Federal Marshals who also have an office in the building.

The discovery of the package prompted an evacuation of the building. The staffer, although suffering from no apparent injuries, was taken in an ambulance for further medical evaluation.

Meanwhile, in Anchorage, the Office of Don Young, located in the Federal Building, also received a suspicious envelope post-marked from Arizona. When opened, it contained a white powdery substance as well. The Anchorage Fire Department responded to the scene, closed down the sixth floor of the building and conducted tests for radiation as well as for acidity. The results were negative.

The two staffers in Don Young’s office were put in isolation and are subject to decontamination.

Subsequent investigation and examination proved the substance in the Young office to be not dangerous. The FBI informed the Young office that the substance is a concrete mix and not hazardous, they also stated, “it is not clear at this time why the package with the concrete mixture was sent to Congressman Young,” this according to Young’s office.

A similar, unopened envelope was also sent to Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office at the Federal Building in Fairbanks. The contents of the packages in Fairbanks has not yet been released.