A suspicious package forced part of Joint Base Andrews to clear out on Friday after seven people felt ill.
A base spokesperson told Military.com the package included “negative sentiments towards the President and his actions” but no specific threats toward him or any other official. The package was opened inside a base facility last Thursday.
Fire crews, hazmat teams and military investigators filled the base and sealed off the building. Emergency teams evacuated that building and the one connected to it, while everyone who reported symptoms was checked by base medical staff and released.
Bioenvironmental engineers and explosive technicians tested the area for contaminants. They found no powder, no chemicals, and no active threat.
High-Profile Base, High Stakes
Joint Base Andrews is home to the aircraft that carry, transport the president. When anything suspicious happens there, security teams don’t take any chances. Even a false alarm triggers evacuations, medical checks and lab testing.
Military.com previously reported on how the Pentagon tightened screening after a white powder scare last year.
Analysts say the stakes are always higher at Andrews. Mail rooms see strange packages; some turn out to be hoaxes. But they still shut down operations and send in hazmat crews. Military.com previously reported how false alarms have triggered large-scale responses at federal buildings.
Investigators Try to Trace the Package
Air Force investigators have been working to figure out who sent the package, where it came from, and how it got into the building. The base has not released the sender’s name or the full contents of the package.
A Joint Base Andrews spokesperson said the Air Force Office of Special Investigations is leading the case, and it remains open. For now, base officials say there is no active threat.
Military.com will update this story if more information is released by authorities.
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