Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Republican National Committee evacuates after receiving blood vials

by Reuters

   WASHINGTON --

   The headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington was
   briefly evacuated Wednesday morning after a suspicious package
   containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police
   said.

   The RNC, the parent organization of the Republican Party, is playing a
   major role in the campaign of former President Donald Trump, who will
   face Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in the November 5 presidential
   election.

   The authorities initially closed off one downtown block and directed
   staff and other personnel to avoid the area. By midmorning, employees
   were reentering the building and police were leaving the scene,
   according to a Reuters witness.

   "The source of the package and its contents will be further
   investigated," the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.

   The RNC did not respond to a request for comment.

   Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson
   Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's
   largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as
   international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000
   newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.