March 27, 2018

Statement on the FBI's Response to Suspicious Packages Received by U.S. Government Facilities in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area

On March 26, 2018, suspicious packages were received at multiple U.S. government facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The FBI responded, and each package was collected and will be analyzed at the FBI Laboratory at Quantico, Virginia. Multiple packages were sent to mail processing facilities at the following locations:

• Fort Belvoir, Virginia
  
• Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.
  
• Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
  
• Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Dahlgren, Virginia
  
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Langley, Virginia
  

The FBI investigation determined that the packages contained potential destructive devices and appeared to be sent by the same individual from the Seattle, Washington area. The individual, Tranh Cong Phan, 43, was taken into custody by FBI Seattle and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office at his residence in Everett, Washington on March 26. Phan is scheduled to have his initial appearance in the Western District of Washington on March 27, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. PDT.

The joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service continues at this time. It is possible that further packages were mailed to additional mail processing facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The FBI takes all suspicious packages seriously and has been coordinating with our local, state, and federal partners on established protocols of how to handle suspicious packages.

The FBI continues to advise the public to remain vigilant and not touch, move, or handle any suspicious or unknown packages.

If you observe any suspicious activity please contact your local law enforcement or the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.

View the formal statement here:

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/washingtondc/news/press-releases/statement-on-the-fbis-response-to-suspicious-packages-received-by-us-government-facilities-in-the-washington-dc-metropolitan-area