EKB News

The scene from downtown Pikeville, KY as anthrax contamination precautions were underway at the federal courthouse building on Main Street.

Haz-Mat crews and the FBI, along with city, state and local officials, were on the scene at the federal courthouse Monday after, what witnesses say was a white powder, was found inside the federal building. Several people were decontaminated outside the courthouse, and nine were transported to the Pikeville Medical Center.

According to a U.S. Marshal, Mike Klein, a Big Sandy Detention Center inmate sent letters to about 25 to 50 places, including the London, Pikeville and Frankfort federal courthouses. The letters threatened anthrax exposure, which led to evacuations of the buildings. The inmate has told prison officials the white substance inside the envelopes was Sweet N Low artificial sweetener. At least four congressional offices, U.S. Representatives Geoff Davis, Brett Guthrie, Ed Whitfield and John Yarmuth, received letters in the mail Monday morning. The downtown portion of Pikeville was reopened shortly after 4:00 P.M. Law enforcement officials from the Pikeville Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, the Pike County Sheriff's Department, the FBI and the U.S. Marshal's Service are involved in an ongoing investigation.