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Letter Sent To White House Tests Tentatively For Cyanide

WASHINGTON (WJZ)-Lab technicians are working to identify a substance found in a letter addressed to the White House that could be cyanide.

Pat Warren are more on the investigation.

The letter was addressed to the White House, but it was intercepted at a facility that screens White House mail.

The Secret Service says an envelope addressed to the White House has tentatively tested positive for cyanide. The letter was received Monday at screening facility miles from the executive mansion.

The initial biological testing was negative for cyanide, but a follow-up test Tuesday showed a presumptive positive reading for the toxin.

The envelope contained an unknown milky substance in a container.

Cyanide is potentially lethal, it attacks the heart and nervous system. So far there's no word whether mail handlers at the facility were exposed.

The Secret Service is not saying who the letter was addressed to, but it never got close to the president.

The Secret Service continues to investigate.

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