White Powder Sent to L.A. Times
Some lunatic apparently sent an envelope with white powder to an L.A. Times editor. (Via L.A. Observed.) The building was evacuated. Turns out the powder was harmless, but this sort of thing is never a laughing matter.
Except to the New York Post, that is.
UPDATE: The L.A. Times has a report:
A hazardous materials crew from the Los Angeles Police Department was dispatched to the Los Angeles Times Tuesday evening after a white powdery substance was discovered in a letter mailed to the newspaper.
By 10 p.m., about 2 ½ hours after authorities were contacted, police determined that the powder was not hazardous. A Times security official said it was believed to be arabinic acid, which is used as an additive in chewing gum.
An estimated 150 to 200 employees were temporarily required to stay in the building, including those in the third-floor newsroom where the letter had been opened.
LAPD Sgt. Mark Hurley said the letter, addressed simply to the “editor” of the newspaper, had “general rambling” comments but no specific threat. He said authorities would investigate the incident further, and would contact the person identified in the letter as the sender.
More here.
If it was sent to the Register, I’m sure someone would give them an “A” for effort.
Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 10/25/2006 @ 1:19 amI was working in the building when we got the report about the powder. Though everyone figured it probably wasn’t a serious threat, the thought that it could be was in the back of everyone’s mind. It got worse when the 10 p.m. newscasts had the story, with live reports from outside the building. Suddenly, loved ones were calling with genuine concern.
But it probably seems a little silly to people who weren’t here.
Houston Mitchell (fbf439) — 10/25/2006 @ 6:31 pmthe person identified himself/herself in the letter as the sender? some defense lawyer out there is gonna be able to pay for his kid’s braces over this.
assistant devil's advocate (bb6b2a) — 10/26/2006 @ 12:13 amSure it wasn’t you?
Maybe one of your readers?
You spit and fume all day calling people traitors, and some lunatic is going to act on it. Of course, anyone who would sit around and spit and fume the way YOU do is a prime candidate to go over the edge and pull a stunt like this.
anon (eb01d6) — 10/26/2006 @ 9:41 pmAny examples of me spitting and fuming all day calling people traitors?
Search box is just off to the right; that’ll make it easy.
Patterico (de0616) — 10/26/2006 @ 10:23 pmThe radicals dont want to harm their biggist supporters in the liberal left-wing news meiia thats why to was probibly confectioners sugar
krazy kagu (79fc72) — 10/27/2006 @ 3:17 pm