Md. police investigate potential mail bombs at state offices

Baltimore Business Journal - by Scott Dance , Staff

Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 2:38pm EST - Last Modified: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 2:45pm EST



Maryland State Police are responding to two incidents of possible explosive devices mailed to state offices in Annapolis and Hanover.


Annapolis officials were notified about 12:50 p.m. that city fire units were responding to an incident in a state mail room in the Jeffrey Building on Francis Street in Annapolis. A package device injured a mailroom employee there, Annapolis spokesman Phillip McGowan said. He could not confirm that the device exploded.


State police have taken the lead on investigating the incident, as another device was discovered at Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover, McGowan said.


State police officials could not be immediately reached.


Police spokesman Greg Shipley told WBAL Radio the first package was opened at about 12:30 in Annapolis, about the size of the book and releasing "smoke and a smell," he said. The room was quarantined.


As Annapolis fire officials responded to that incident, another was reported at MDOT headquarters.


No serious injuries were reported, Shipley told WBAL. Some employees reported singed fingers, he said. At least one employee was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure.


Gov. Martin O'Malley issued an alert to all state offices, and all mail rooms were quarantined, Shipley said.


Listen to Shipley discuss the incidents here.


Maryland State Police are responding to two incidents of possible explosive devices mailed to state offices in Annapolis and Hanover.


Annapolis officials were notified about 12:50 p.m. that city fire units were responding to an incident in a state mail room in the Jeffrey Building on Francis Street in Annapolis. A package device injured a mailroom employee there, Annapolis spokesman Phillip McGowan said. He could not confirm that the device exploded.


State police have taken the lead on investigating the incident, as another device was discovered at Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover, McGowan said.


State police officials could not be immediately reached.


Police spokesman Greg Shipley told WBAL Radio the first package was opened at about 12:30 in Annapolis, about the size of the book and releasing "smoke and a smell," he said. The room was quarantined.
As Annapolis fire officials responded to that incident, another was reported at MDOT headquarters.
No serious injuries were reported, Shipley told WBAL. Some employees reported singed fingers, he said. At least one employee was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure.
Gov. Martin O'Malley issued an alert to all state offices, and all mail rooms were quarantined, Shipley said.
Listen to Shipley discuss the incidents here.

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