Military base horror as 'several people fall ill' after suspicious package opened

Air Force One Hanger at Andrews Air Force Base (Image: Getty Images)

A "suspicious package" being delivered at a military base on Thursday prompted its evacuation and saw "multiple people" fall ill. The package was delivered to the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, USA, which has since launched an investigation. The base, just outside Washington DC, was evacuated with a cordon placed around potentially contaminated buildings after the envelope was found to contain an unknown white powder.

A statement by Joint Base Andrews said: “As a precaution, the building and connecting building were evacuated, and a cordon was established around the area. Joint Base Andrews first responders were dispatched to the scene, determined there were no immediate threats, and have turned the scene over to the Office of Special Investigations. An investigation is currently ongoing.”

The base is located just outside Washington DC (Image: Getty Images)

Several people working on the base were transported to the medical centre after opening the envelope and coming into contact with the mystery powder.

HAZMAT teams working at the scene are not believed to have found the powder hazardous, but a source close to the case said the investigation is ongoing.

The forensic team left the base on Thursday evening, which has since resumed normal operations, although the building in which the letter was opened has remained closed.

Trump arrived at the base on Air Force One just a day before the package was opened (Image: Getty)

The building itself houses the Air National Guard Readiness Centre, a place that performs operational and technical functions to ensure the combat readiness of Air National Guard units - the US Air Force reserves.

Being close to the capital, the base is used as a transport hub for many top politicians on official business, with Trump himself travelling via the base just a day earlier.

Sources have also revealed to CNN that the letter came with political propaganda, which is also being investigated.