Suspicious Envelopes Prompt Hazmat Callout To LA Times Headquarters

EL SEGUNDO (CBSLA) – Suspicious envelopes forced a hazmat response to the Los Angeles Times headquarters in El Segundo Wednesday amid heightened concerns following news that several explosive devices had been mailed to top Democratic political officials across the country.

At around 11:30 a.m., El Segundo police responded to the Times building located at 2300 East Imperial Highway on a report of a box containing four suspicious white envelopes.

The Times reported that the envelopes were addressed to "knots berry farm sweets" with a return address of the L.A. Times. Police at the scene told CBS2 the envelopes were mailed separately and then placed in a box after all being deemed suspicious.

After determining that the box did not contain a bomb, the building was not evacuated. Instead, the envelopes were placed outside the building while an El Segundo Fire Department hazmat team was brought out to investigate.

Streets surrounding the Times building were blocked off, police said.

The contents of the envelopes were not immediately disclosed, but El Segundo police later said the packages were determined to be "non-hazardous."

In an email to CBS2, a Times spokesperson wrote: "Given the reports about the package sent to former CIA chief John Brennan at CNN, and potential explosive devices sent to Obama, Hillary Clinton and former Atty. Gen. Holder, our security and facilities teams are being extra careful with mail and packages being delivered here, as well as with any visitors to the building. There is some mail that is being thoroughly screened."

A suspicious package was also found at the L.A. Central Mail facility in downtown Wednesday afternoon, according to police. Another suspicious package was also found at the L.A. Central Mail facility near downtown Wednesday afternoon, according to police. The package was reportedly addressed to U.S. Representative Maxine Waters.