FBI: Israeli consulates targeted for suspicious letters

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The suspicious letter found Tuesday afternoon at the Israeli consulate in Atlanta is similar to those found at other Israeli consulates during the past two days, an FBI spokesman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“There’s a lot of white powder letters that are going to Israeli consulates around the country," Chris Allen of the FBI said late Tuesday. "There may be more out there."

So far, the substances have been harmless, Allen said. He declined to say how many related cases are under investigation.

"All of the ones we’re aware of have been field tested and are negative," Allen said. "Anyone who came in contact with it is asymptomatic."

A Midtown building that houses the Israeli consulate, at the intersection of Spring and 12th streets, was evacuated Tuesday afternoon after the suspicious letter was found. The building also houses Westwood College.

“We took the normal precautions and sealed it up," David Rhodes, a battalion chief with the Atlanta Fire Department, told Channel 2 Action News.

Spring Street also was closed for a time.

The FBI will conduct additional testing on the substance, Allen said.

No injuries were reported, officials said.

The Israeli consulate in Boston was evacuated Monday due to a suspicious package, as well as embassies in The Hague and Brussels, according to media reports.