HAZMAT crews examine a substance in the Iowa House.
Sometime between three and four o’clock this afternoon State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad opened a threatening letter that contained a white substance.
At nearly a quarter past five o’clock, the head of capitol security, Sergeant Mark Logsdon was invited to address the members and others who were gathered in the House chamber.
AUDIO of announcement from Logsdon, followed by a few words from House Speaker Kraig Paulsen.
AUDIO of Paulsen’s previous announcement, at about 4:45 p.m., as sirens were sounding outside the statehouse.
AUDIO of announcement made on the statehouse public address system shortly before five o’clock.
Here is what visitors in the statehouse heard: “This is Post 16. We request people stay in the building until further notice. We will advise you when you are allowed to leave.”
The House had been debating a bill that would ban traffic enforcement cameras in Iowa. Debate was suspended at 3:47 p.m. and Abdul-Samad was taken to an impromptu “containment area” — the entrance area to the House chamber, with swinging doors that lead into the House on one side and, on the other side, swinging doors the lead into the capitol rotunda.
The HazMat team arrived in the House chamber at about 5:30.