White powder incident at Arizona State Capitol under joint FBI, DPS investigation

PHOENIX - An envelope containing white powder prompted evacuations and a joint investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the FBI at the Arizona State Capitol's Executive Tower Thursday night.

What we know:

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes calls the incident a "targeted threat" after he says the Arizona Department of State received an envelope filled with white powder "that was opened by staff" on Oct. 15.

"The Office has followed appropriate protocols by calling law enforcement and hazmat response, isolating the material and individuals who were exposed, evacuating all other employees, and shutting off floor access," Fontes said.

There are no reported injuries at this time, and the investigation remains active, DPS spokesperson Bart Graves says.

‘We will not be scared out of doing our jobs’

What they're saying:

"This is a sobering moment that highlights the reality of election administration in this country today. I am thankful for my staff that acted quickly and are taking the lead from law-enforcement and hazmat experts on a response to ensure the safety of my entire staff and our customers. We will not be scared out of doing our jobs on behalf of the voters of Arizona. As the election closes in, we know that threats will continue and we are on high alert to protect everyone on our team that is working overtime to serve Arizona," Fontes said.

The tower houses the offices of Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and other state officials.

Gov. Hobbs released a statement about the investigation.

"Today, the Executive Tower was evacuated after a Hazardous Materials Incident. I'm glad that there are no reported injuries at this time and thankful to the first responders for their swift action," she said. "Threats against our hard-working public servants are unacceptable. Anybody responsible for threatening or intimidating elections officials should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

What we don't know:

Authorities have not identified the white powder or determined how it entered the building. It remains unclear if the envelope contained a message or who was the intended recipient.

Big picture view:

Federal law enforcement agencies are investigating suspicious letters sent to election and congressional offices across the country, advising recipients to handle the mail with extreme caution.

According to a Senate Sergeant at Arms notice obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are leading the joint probe. While authorities are attempting to intercept additional hazardous mailings, the notice cautioned Senate staff that some letters could still arrive at their intended destinations.