Panic briefly ensued at an IRS facility in southeast Austin after employees were exposed to a package containing an "unknown substance". According to KXAN, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon and prompted an immediate evacuation as safety personnel, including police, firefighters, and EMS, responded to the scene. The report detailed how, at around 1:30 p.m., an employee's opening of a package led to the exposure of 28 people.
A further update from CBS Austin highlighted the discovery of a second package, leading to another round of evacuations. Despite initial concerns, the Austin Police Department stated, "the substance inside does not appear to be hazardous," but it is undergoing testing "out of an abundance of caution." One individual was evaluated at the scene for non-life-threatening symptoms and released.
The facility, noted for housing various federal services including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Austin's IT Center and a childcare facility for federal workers, was cleared and secured later in the afternoon. The FBI was made aware of and responded to the incident, working in conjunction with local authorities as per usual protocols, conveying a sense of institutional solidarity in the face of potential threats.
With the buildings occupants' safety ensured, the Austin Fire Department’s Special Operations team took custody of both packages. While initial assessments leaned towards a benign substance within, the packages have been sent for further analysis to ensure the community's safety. "The building was secured and cleared," APD said just before 5 p.m., reflecting the rapid resolution of the day's unsettling developments.
