FBI Terrorism Unit To Investigate Palm Desert Theater Threat
October 11, 2008 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
McCallum Theater
An FBI terrorism division is investigating as a credible threat a letter that contained a suspicious substance found at a Palm Desert theater.
Initial analysis by the FBI tested negative for biological or chemical hazards. Tests also indicated that the substance was not harmful.
The discovery of the substance at about 2 p.m. prompted authorities to evacuate about 20 employees of the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert after a theater worker opened the envelope. The theater was then sealed, Riverside County Fire Capt. Fernando Herrera said.
Four employees came in contact with the substance and were quarantined for decontamination, Riverside County sheriff’s Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela said. The employees were treated by the Riverside County Fire Department’s Hazardous Material team, where they were stripped and cleansed with water and their clothes bagged and confiscated.
No injuries or illnesses were reported. It’s not clear what the substance was or who the letter was addressed to, but the envelope did contain a letter, Valenzuela said.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the substance after it was packaged and sent to the FBI’s crime analysis lab, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
