Powder in Elgin not anthrax, ricin or botulism

Initial hazardous material team testing showed the white powder sent in an envelope to the Illinois State Appellate Court building in downtown Elgin Monday was not anthrax, ricin or botulism, according to Elgin officials. The FBI is on scene continuing the investigation and will further test the powder, the substance of which is still unknown.

Emergency response teams took 28 people from the courthouse next to city hall to local hospitals as a precautionary measure after a clerk found a mysterious white powder in a mailed letter just before 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Elgin spokeswoman Sue Olafson was quick to point out that the letter likely had no connection to the death of Osama bin Laden, given the fact that it had to go through the post office before his death.

The Elgin Fire Department subsequently activated a hazardous materials team to examine it, Olafson said. Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, South Elgin, Carpentersville and North Aurora departments were among those aiding Elgin.

Olafson said she could not officially confirm where the letter came from, but said it was threatening in nature.

“It was a credible threat,” Olafson said. “Which is the reason why we are responding in the way that we are.”

The appellate court building will be closed for 72 hours as a precautionary measure while the FBI continues its testing, Olafson said.

There have been no injuries and no one is feeling ill, but Olafson said the 28 people were decontaminated and sent to local hospitals just to be safe.

Authorities set up three decontamination pools to wash up between the nearby Hemmens Cultural Center and the Centre of Elgin.

Meanwhile, authorities blocked off most of the area surrounding the courthouse on Symphony Way, the Hemmens and the Centre.

Ÿ Daily Herald photographer Christopher Hankins contributed to this report.