2 suspicious letters delivered to Boston buildings

BOSTON -- Crews responded to two different office buildings in Boston after reports of suspicious letters - one where Attorney General Martha Coakley's office is and the other where Senator Scott Brown's is.

Late Tuesday morning around 11:20, police and hazmat crews responded to the John W. McCormack Building One Ashburton Place.

Authorities saying a letter containing a white powdery substance arrived at Coakley’s office.

About an hour later just a few streets away there was the same story. This time, the letter with the white powder was delivered to Senator Scott Brown’s office on the 24th floor on the John F. Kennedy Federal Building.

“Looks like the same type of handwriting, so it’s probably the same scribble inside with whatever threat,” said Dist. Chief Dennis Costin of the Boston Fire Department.

In both cases the powder tested to be harmless. Authorities say though, with the recent killing of Osama bin Laden, this is not a surprise.

The public seems to agree, but people are certainly frustrated.

“That is despicable to use the events of 9/11 or bin Laden to make good on some sort of grudge,” said Chuck Mather.

“I don’t think it necessarily draws out terrorists, it draws out crazy people,” said Marc Dobrusin.

At both locations no one was evacuated or needed medical treatment. But certainly people felt uneasy, and emergency resources were held up for what appears to be a hoax.

“Obviously state and federal agencies are going to have to be extra vigilant at this time,” said Edward Farwell.

The powder has been sent to the state lab for further testing. Officials are saying that they will not be surprised if this kind of thing happens again.

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