Biden’s brother in white powder from India scare

October 3rd, 2011 - 7:38 pm ICT by IANS  

Washington, Oct 3 (IANS) The younger brother of US Vice President Joe Biden was hospitalised overnight after he opened a package from India containing a white powder that was initially thought to be anthrax.

Based on preliminary tests, the FBI later declared the contents of the package to be “not threatening in nature”. The US Postal Service and the FBI are investigating, reported WPTV, a local NBC affiliate.

Francis Biden, 57, was at his Boynton Beach, Florida, home Saturday when he received the Manila envelope, which was addressed to him, according to the Palm Beach Post.

When Biden opened the package, his skin came into contact with a suspicious white powder and he immediately contacted authorities who evacuated the neighbours and took him to hospital, where he was held overnight.

His girlfriend Mindy was also taken but was released later that day.

“She retrieved the envelope but I was the one who opened it. It came from India,” Biden said.

“I was the only one who came in contact with the powder so they kept me in hospital. I’m fine.”

He did not say whether or not anything else was in the envelope and referred the matter to the FBI.

Francis Biden is the president of a real estate development and consulting firm based in Florida. He is currently an active supporter of the Obama-Biden administration and their re-election campaign.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)

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