An incident briefly occurred at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan yesterday afternoon when five letters containing an unknown white powder prompted an emergency evacuation of the building, which houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies. Preliminary tests, reported by ABC7NY, identified the substance as boric acid—a common pesticide ingredient that is not dangerous unless ingested.
The powder was reported found just before 4 p.m., prompting first responders and hazardous material units to arrive at the scene within four minutes. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced today, "We are told the preliminary results indicate there were no dangerous substances that were involved," reiterating that while the substance posed no serious threat, the incident is being investigated as a serious crime, as told in a statement obtained by ABC7NY.
As reported by CBS News New York, while the building was evacuated as a standard precaution, some individuals followed safety protocols by sheltering in place. Christopher Raia, FBI Assistant Director in New York, assured that "no threat remains to any employees or the public at this time," following the prompt response of the emergency teams.
The incident at 26 Federal Plaza comes amid ongoing tensions and scrutiny over the activities of ICE. A recent federal judge ruling ordered ICE to improve conditions for detained immigrants, recognizing the lack of access to basic services, including sleeping mats and hygienic products for those held at the site. This ruling came after the DHS had earlier stated that allegations of overcrowding or poor conditions were "categorically false," as Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described in a statement to CBS News New York.
After the incident, the letters containing the white powder were sent to the FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, for further analysis. Authorities are working to identify and apprehend the individual responsible. Mayor Adams has stated that the city will cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. No charges have been filed at this time.
