2 Packages Ignite In Md. Gov’t Buildings;Third Suspicious Package Found

HANOVER, Md. (WJZ/AP) — A third suspicious package has possibly been found at the state office complex mail room on West Preston Street in Baltimore. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Howard Street west have been shut down.
This comes after packages sent to two state buildings created a small flash of fire, smoke and an odor when they were opened, but did not cause any serious injuries.
The third package is at the building that houses the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other agencies. U.S. Postal Inspector Frank Schissler in Baltimore says the package was being examined. It’s not clear at this time if the third package is related to the other two.
As a precaution, police have evacuated the state office building in downtown Baltimore and the bomb squad is investigating the third suspicious package. Baltimore City Police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi reports:

State officials initially said the two packages exploded, but later said there were no blasts.  One of the packages was addressed to Governor Martin O’Malley.
Derek Valcourt reports fire officials initially responded to a report of an explosion in Hanover at the Department of Transportation headquarters.

Officials say the incident happened in the 7200-block of Corporate Center Drive around 1 p.m. Thursday. The package under investigation was addressed to the Maryland Department of Transportation.
 Mike Hellgren reports from the Maryland Department of Transportation building, where he talked to MDOT employees who watched the investigation unfold.

The building was evacuated. Employees were cleared around 4:30 p.m. to go back in, and the building will be open for business Friday.
Several people were transported to the hospital as a precaution, but their injuries are believed to be minor.
Captain Mike Perry Reports:

Alex DeMetrick Reports On Third Suspicious Package:

Meanwhile, a Maryland State House mailroom employee was injured early Thursday afternoon while handling a package addressed to the governor around 12:30 p.m. It happened at the Jeffrey Building on Francis Street in Annapolis is being investigated by various agencies.
Pat Warren Reports From The Scene In Annapolis

The mailroom employee had minor burns to his hands and refused treatment. The Jeffrey Building was evacuated, but employees have since been allowed back into the building.
Maryland State Police Spokesman Greg Shipley says mailrooms at state offices across Maryland are being quarantined Thursday until it is determined if any other packages have been sent.
Shipley says the packages were small, describing them as about the size of a book. Shipley says the packages did not cause any damage to the buildings.
Greg Shipley Talks To WJZ:

Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger told WJZ one of the packages did have a return address that was traced to a Washington, D.C. parking garage.
Dutch Ruppersberger Talks To WJZ:

The FBI’s joint terrorism task force was assisting in the investigation, the state police spokesman said, adding that the state fire marshal and a number of other law enforcement agencies also responded to the two scenes.
A Homeland Security Department official said the department was aware of the incidents and monitoring them.
New Jersey state police also said they had notified agencies across the Garden State about what had happened, saying it was part of normal protocol when such incidents occur. The New Jersey agencies were advised to be “extra vigilant” in handling mail and packages.
CBS Homeland Security Expert Bob Orr:

Baltimore City Fire Chief Kevin Cartwright Talks About Suspicious Package:

Stay with WJZ.COM for the latest on this developing story.