By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — State and federal authorities have evacuated the Executive Tower at the Arizona State Capitol Thursday afternoon because of a “targeted threat,” involving a powder, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a statement.
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The Arizona Department of State received an envelope full of white powder, which a clerk in Fontes’s office opened, Fontes said.
The department office called law enforcement and hazmat crews, isolated the powder and anyone who may have been exposed, evacuated other employees and closed off the floor, Fontes said.
Secretary Fontes addresses targeted threat at Executive Tower. pic.twitter.com/LR6uz0fhDI
— Arizona Secretary of State (@AZSecretary) October 16, 2026
No one was hurt, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The FBI released a statement later Thursday suggesting the Arizona incident could be related to suspicious mail across the country.
“The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices,” the statement read. “Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters. This FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens.”
Gov. Katie Hobbs was not in the tower at the time of the incident. She thanked first responders for the swift actions and demanded accountability for those behind the white powder.
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“Threats against our hard-working public servants are unacceptable. Anybody responsible for threatening or intimidating elections officials should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” she said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Today, the Executive Tower was evacuated after a Hazardous Materials Incident. I’m glad that there are no reported injuries at this time and thankful to the first responders for their swift action.
Threats against our hard-working public servants are unacceptable. Anybody…
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) October 16, 2026
DPS’ Hazardous Materials Response Team and the FBI are at the scene assessing the situation.
The Executive Tower houses the Office of the Governor, the office of the state treasurer, the office of the secretary of state and various other state agencies, boards and commissions.
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