BOSTON POLICE INVESTIGATE SUSPICIOUS LOOKING LETTERS RECEIVED BY FIVE AREA HOSPITALSOn Wednesday, April 8, 2009, five area hospitals called Boston Police to report the receipt of suspicious looking letters. Officers were dispatched to the following five locations.
At about 10:47am, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, officers from Area B-2 (Roxbury) responded to a radio call at 125 Parker Hill Avenue (New England Baptist Hospital) for the report of suspicious looking letter. According to hospital employees, the letter showed no indications (i.e. visible substances or powder) of being hazardous.
At about 12:00pm, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, officers from Area D-4 (South End) responded to a radio call at 850 Harrison Avenue (Boston Medical Center) for the report of a suspicious looking or threatening looking letter. According to hospital employees, the letter showed no indications (i.e. visible substances or powder) of being hazardous.
At about 12:36pm, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, officers from Area B-2 (Roxbury) responded to a radio call in the area of Fenwood Road and Vining Street (Brigham & Women’s Hospital) for the for the report of a suspicious looking or threatening looking letter.
At about 1:31pm, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, officers from Area A-1 (Downtown) responded to 800 Washington Street (Tufts Medical Center) for the fourth report of a threatening looking letter.
At about 2:12pm, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, officers from Area B-2 (Roxbury) responded to 330 Brookline Avenue (Beth Israel Hospital) for the fifth report of a threatening looking letter.
The Boston Police Hazmat Team was dispatched to all five locations.
At present, it appears that the envelopes received at the five locations were sent from a single source. There are no specific threats in or on the envelopes and no white powder has been detected. The sender appears to be a zealous advocate for patient’s rights and makes statements critical of the care provided by these hospitals. This investigation is ongoing and, at this time, there is no biological threat.
During the course of the investigation, no evacuations occurred at any of the locations and hospital service was never interrupted.
*** NOTE: At present, there have been five (5) reported incidents.
