Clerical employee in AG's office opens suspicious letter

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Health Department was conducting tests Thursday on a letter containing a powdery substance that was opened in the state attorney general's office, a spokesman

Thursday, October 25th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Health Department was conducting tests Thursday on a letter containing a powdery substance that was opened in the state attorney general's office, a spokesman for the office said.

A clerical employee opened the letter, said Gerald Adams, a spokesman for the attorney general.

He said a hazardous materials team in protective suits removed the letter and brought it to the health department, which has tested more than 200 items for the presence of anthrax or other dangerous materials over the last few weeks. So far, all the tests have come back as negative.

The employee who opened the letter was awaiting the results of the health department tests on the letter before deciding whether she would seek medical attention, Adams said.

Results of those tests were expected Thursday afternoon.

A portion of the attorney general's office was sealed off after the incident, and remained closed while the health department testing was conducted.