Trump and two Pentagon employees sent envelopes with white powder: ricin is suspected

Pentagon officials discovered at least two packages allegedly containing the toxic substance ricin, addressed to US government officials; The “suspicious envelope” was also addressed to US President Donald Trump; its contents were not disclosed.

Photo: twitter.com/realDonaldTrump

This was stated by the press service of the US military, writes Fox News.

The packages were addressed to the Secretary of the United States Department of Defense, James Mattis, and a senior US Navy officer, Admiral John Richardson.

The presence of ricin in packets has not yet been confirmed, but preliminary tests for the presence in the envelopes of this substance gave positive results.

According to the press service of the department, the packages did not get into the Pentagon; they were found in the post office next door to the military department of 1 September. Preliminary tests of the contents of the packages showed a positive result for the presence of ricin (poison made from castor beans), but the FBI is now doing a second analysis to finally determine what substance is in the packages.

2 September evening, the US secret service said it had received a “suspicious envelope” addressed to President Donald Trump. The Office reported that the envelope "did not get into the White House."

The secret service refused to give additional comments, stating that the matter was being studied.

On October 2, it became known that two people were taken to hospital after being exposed to a “white powdery substance” in Senator Ted Cruz’s office in Houston, Texas. The Houston Fire Department evacuated the entire ninth floor of the Phoenix Tower before the tests showed a negative result for the presence of any hazardous substance in the envelopes. In the office, the politician was told that they did not yet know what substance was sent to them.

Ricin is a poison that can take several different physical forms, but as a purified powder, the substance can be lethal. It is also one of the easiest poisons to produce.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ricin in powder form can be used as a weapon that can cause death in certain circumstances. The Centers noted that the distribution of this powder is deliberate, unintentional or accidental poisoning with them is impossible except for the occasional use of castor beans.

Notable cases of ricin poisoning include the murder of George Markov, a Bulgarian writer and journalist who lived in London in 1978 year. Markov died after being attacked by a man with a fake umbrella, with which he made an injection and injected poison under the skin of a journalist.

“Ricin poisoning is not contagious. Ricin-related illness cannot be spread from person to person through casual contact. However, if you come into contact with a person who has ricin on their body or clothing, you may be exposed to the poison,” the CDC says.

In June, a mother from Wisconsin was accused of spreading propaganda on the Internet by the Islamic State terrorist organization, including information on how to make ricin on one’s own and send this substance to government bodies or add a chemical to reservoirs.

Read also on ForumDaily:

What does Trump's new limousine look like for $ 15 million? VIDEO

Live like Putin: life hack book has been published by the president of Russia

Donald Trump officially became a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize 2018

Trump will be judged for receiving money from foreigners: the court accepted a claim from 200 congressmen

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.