No threat with powder in envelope sent to Montana Department of Labor; suspect being sought

Powder in envelope sent to Mont. office no threat

HELENA, Mont. — Montana authorities say powder released when an envelope burst while being handled by state workers in Helena posed no threat.

Police in Butte were looking for a suspect who could be behind the suspicious letter mailed to the Montana Department of Labor from a Butte address.

Three state workers and a Helena city police officer were isolated for several hours Tuesday while emergency response workers did an initial test on the substance that ruled it out as dangerous. The state lab will do more tests to verify that.

Other workers on the same floor of the building were relocated for most of the day, and processing of unemployment insurance filings was slowed.

The state says the envelope burst, as if there were a triggering device to distribute the powder.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — An envelope containing a suspicious powder burst open Tuesday while being handled by state workers in a Montana government office.

Three Department of Labor workers and a Helena city police officer were isolated while a state lab tested the substance. Other workers on the third floor of the Walt Sullivan building were relocated elsewhere for the day.

The state says the envelope burst, as if there were a triggering device to distribute the powder. The contents of the envelope were otherwise described as a standard Department of Labor form.

A state spokeswoman says there was no indication who sent the letter to the state.