A letter addressed to the mayor of Jersey City containing some white powder — and a picture of former New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow — caused the evacuation of the City Hall building Monday. Although the powder proved to be harmless, it was clearly meant to look like a chemical or biological threat, said authorities.
Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea said the letter was addressed to “Steven Fulop, family and friends.” When it was opened by a mayor’s aide at 2:15 p.m. Monday, a small amount of white powder fell out.
A source said the letter contained “spiritual stuff. Heaven stuff. A picture of Tebow.”
The aide who opened the letter immediately called police and soon after city hall was surrounded by police and fire departments, the bomb squad, a hazmat team and ambulances. According to Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea, those in the room in which the envelope was opened were quarantined while the rest of the building was evacuated.
Ultimately, the powder turned out to be harmless and the return address on the envelope was a fake. The mayor was not in his office when the envelope was opened.
The incident is still under investigation.
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