White powder found in envelopes at Manhattan’s Federal Plaza,

Police evacuated Federal Plaza in Manhattan after five envelopes containing a white powder were discovered Thursday afternoon, officials said.

Two people were exposed to the powder.

Cops raced to the building — a part in which a “processing center” for ICE is located — around 4 p.m. after the suspicious powder was found inside. The building was immediately evacuated.

“Today we were notified 5 letters containing unknown white powder in the mail room of Enforcement and Removal Operations at 26 Federal Plaza,” FBI Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge of New York Field office, said at a news conference Thursday night. “Our Weapons of Mass Destruction and Hazard Evidence Response Team immediately responded to the scene.”

He added after the evacuation, “no threat remains to any employees or public.”

“Following initial testing which is still ongoing, the letters will be sent to the FBI lab in Quantico,” Raia said. “We want to remind the public that sending threatening letters of this nature whether real or hoax is a crime.”

Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said the white powder was discovered on the 9th floor of the building.

“I want to ensure the public there are no injuries at this time,” Daughtry said, adding that tests to determine contents of the powder were underway.

FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said the Fire Department responded in “less than 4 minutes,” noting: “We train for incidents like this with the NYPD.”

Mayor Adams also was optimistic about the outcome of the frightening discovery.

“I want to also reassure you that there are no known injuries at this time,” he said on X,

“While we await test results from our federal partners, @FDNY Hazmat teams are on the ground to ensure the safety of everyone inside and outside of the building,” the mayor added.

https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/08/14/white-powder-found-in-envelopes-at-manhattans-federal-plaza/