Unknown powder closes Clemson post office

The Clemson post office on College Avenue was shut down for about half an hour Saturday after a letter containing white powder was found. (PAUL BROWN photo) e-mail this story

The powdery substance was discovered at 6:30 a.m., which immediately forced a shutdown of the College Avenue facility, Clemson Police Chief Jimmy Dixon said.

He said he didn't think the incident was serious. Hours later, investigators were trying to find out where the substance came from.

"There was a letter that came through that had white powder in it," the chief said. "It looked like white baby powder."

He said a postal worker found it and no one was hurt.

Dixon said he wasn't alarmed, despite the fact that deadly ricin was found at a postal center near Pelham Road on Oct. 15.

That facility was shut down for 11 hours.

Dixon said he "collected it myself" after his department went to its "terrorism" mode.

Postal authorities and agents from the State Law Enforcement Division and the FBI were summoned, the chief said.

The substance was taken to the FBI in Columbia, which is testing it.

Dixon said he didn't think the incident was terrorist-related. "Nothing at this point leads me to believe it's ricin."

The post office opened about 30 minutes later, Dixon said.