HAZMAT incident in Albany linked to suspicious mailings in several states

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed they are investigating a HAZMAT incident at the New York State Board of Elections on North Pearl Street in Albany. Officials say the disturbance is connected to a series of suspicious mailings sent to election officials in several states.

"This afternoon, the New York State Board of Elections received mail that contained a suspicious substance in what appears to be part of a pattern of potentially threatening mail being sent to elections offices across the country," said the State Board of Elections. "The State Board immediately contacted law enforcement and temporarily evacuated the area. Law enforcement’s investigation into the incident is ongoing."

The FBI stated that letters containing an unknown substance have been located during the investigation. Law enforcement officers are continuing efforts to respond to each incident and safely collect the compromised mail.

Investigators with the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are working to determine how many letters were sent, who is responsible for sending them, and the motive behind the mailings. Officials remind the public to exercise caution in handling mail from unrecognized senders, and to report any suspicious parcels to police.