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CBSNews /

CBS/ AP/ January 7, 2011, 2:27 PM

Lone Wolf Likely Behind Dangerous Md. Packages

ANNAPOLIS - Two mail packages caused some kind of incendiary reaction when opened, burning the fingers of two employees in separate incidents at two state office buildings in Maryland at almost the same time Thursday afternoon. Officials say there is no apparent connection to any domestic terror group and that the mailings appear to be from an angry individual who has a specific grudge against the Maryland State government.

Investigators suspect the small devices were sent by someone, angry over Maryland road signs, asking motorists to report suspicious activity.

Part of a note enclosed with one of the packages read: "Report suspicious activity...total bullsh**...you have created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Signed, X"

The scare caused the evacuation of 300 people.

CBS News Homeland Security Correspondent Bob Orr reports that both packages were sent through the mail, and that law enforcement officials are not calling them bombs. The State Fire Marshall's office reported finding no explosive material in either.

"When both packages were opened there was a reaction that caused a flash of fire, a brief flash of fire, smoke and a smell," state police spokesman Greg Shipley told the Associated Press. "This is not to be compared with a significant explosion that you think of when you say that word."

Sources say the devices may have used matches as igniters.

Shipley said the packages were small, about the size of a book. One had five holiday stamps.

CBS News has learned that one of the packages was addressed to Governor Martin O'Malley at the Governor's mansion but was taken to the state offices at the Maryland Department of General Services' Jeffery Building in Annapolis.

According to one law enforcement source, a note was recovered from one of the packages. The source did not have information on what was written on the note or if it was handwritten or typed.

The package addressed to the governor, which injured a mailroom employee, "spit a little flame and smelled of sulfur," when opened the governor told the The Baltimore Sun.

"The employee sustained minor stinging to his fingers, but refused further medical treatment," the Maryland State Police said in a news release about the incident, which occurred around 12:30 p.m, the Sun reports.

The state government has locked down all of its mailrooms, according to a bulletin from the Maryland Department of Transportation, reports the Sun.

The Jeffrey Building includes a number of gubernatorial staff offices, including the Office of Homeland Security, the appointments office, the secretary of state and StateStat, the Sun reports.

The other explosion occurred at around 1 p.m. in the mailroom of the Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover, Md., reports WBAL radio in Baltimore.

Law enforcement sources tell CBS News that "one device flamed and the other fizzled."

Only two packages, which both ignited, are linked to the same sender. Police have checked out other "suspicious" packages that have turned out to be false alarms.
CBS/ AP
23 Comments Add a Comment
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locomo-007 says:
This is the works of "Freedom Fighters" right here in the D.C. metropolitan are....
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run2jazz2 says:
No need to look for Terrorist cells in Yemen and Pakistan when they are sitting right here in Maryland! Maybe some of those drones need to be used over here huh?
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wyodutch says:
To be honest... I sorta like the idea of the federal government being the one having to look over it's shoulder for a change.
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illcountryboy says:
If it wasn't terrorism - what was it?
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askagain says:
Poor choice of words. This may not be jihad insired terrorism but it is terrorism nevertheless. Any violent act where there are innocent and unsuspecting victimes and/or property damage should be construed as terrorism.
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Birdman04 says:
Here is a statistic that is frightening and supports the use of profiling to stop Terrorism in our country.

A recent study conducted by a refutable firm right here in this U.S. of A shows that 100% of serious, petty crimes and acts of Terrorism that occur on the campus of an all girl's private school were committed by females, ages 18-40, with blond, brown, auburn, red, black or brown hair with black, brown, blue or green eyes, of below or above or of average height and weight dressed in various seasonal outfits too numerous to mention.

In almost all cases they were described as either carrying a purse or maybe not and having a combination of tattoo's, ear rings or body piercing on their beautiful bodies no less.

Makeup, eye liner and other facial cosmetics were in many cases used to disguise the facial features and perfume and smelly stuff was often used to seductively mask their sexy body odor.

If you are hunting terrorist's in a Muslim country in the Middle East what would you expect them all to look like?

I rest my case.......................sarcasm/off
We return you to your regularly scheduled program already in progress.
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dronemonk says:
Know why an effort is being made to distance this terrorist attack from others? This one was committed by a non-Islamic, and our propagandists have put a lot of effort into conditioning us to conflate "terrorism" with "Muslim".
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gdinsb replies:
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Exactly. This is terrorism. Just a different flavor of crazy.
fbarich replies:
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When an Old White Christian does this, it's just an expression of his 1st Amendment rights.
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onephatcat says:
In what way is this not terrorism??? A guy who sends a bomb because he is pissed off IS a terrorist. What kind of idiot would say this is not terrorism????
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thomasmc1957 says:
Nothing to see here folks, just another Tea Party Terrorist -- er, I mean "angry individual." Move along, now.
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thomasmc1957 says:
So, if the terrorist is a Right Wing wacko, they don't call it "terrorism." Gotcha.
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