Suspicious Powder at NYC ICE Office Sparks Investigation

A major incident unfolded at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, home to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office, when envelopes containing an unidentified white powder were discovered on Thursday afternoon.

<img src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/c954aaa8-eccd-486f-a884-a29672680d66/26-federal-plaza-white-powder_1755220184171_hpMain.jpg" alt="Emergency responders at 26 Federal Plaza">

The FBI is leading the investigation, with Hazmat teams deployed to ensure public safety. Five letters containing the powder were found in the ICE office's mailroom on the ninth floor. While there are no reported injuries, the building was evacuated as a precaution.

<img src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/02d90ea3-c239-476f-9add-43af6352e138/building-manhattan_1755215115467_hpMain.jpeg" alt="26 Federal Plaza building">

FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia stated that while most such incidents are hoaxes, the matter is being taken seriously. Sending threatening letters, regardless of content, is a crime. The substance is currently undergoing testing.

The incident occurred at 26 Federal Plaza, a building that houses not only ICE but also the FBI's New York field office and an immigration court. This location has been the site of frequent protests in the past.

<img src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/544931e1-2382-496a-a331-7c3ab99ec4e4/federal-plaza_1755215489367_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg" alt="Federal Plaza building exterior">

Authorities are urging people to avoid the area while the investigation continues. The building's history of controversy and protests, including a recent legal dispute over conditions in a migrant holding facility on the 10th floor, adds another layer of complexity to this event.