Seven Chase bank branches in Phoenix and the New York Times headquarters in New York received envelopes containing a suspicious white powder on Wednesday as a wave of threatening U.S. mailings spread. More than 45 threatening letters have been received since Monday at financial institutions in at least 11 states, FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said. Most of the letters contain a powder substance with a threatening communication, he said. No harmful substances have yet been identified but more tests are being conducted at regional laboratories, he said. U.S. authorities are always on the alert for such letters after incidents in 2001 in which envelopes laced with anthrax were sent to media outlets and U.S. lawmakers, killing five people and further rattling a nation shaken by the September 11 attacks. Asked if the bank letters were sent by a single mailer, Kolko said, theres certainly a common thread.

On the eve of planned May Day protests across the country, envelopes containing white powder were sent to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and six banks in Manhattan, officials said Monday.



The envelopes, intended to frighten their recipients but later found to be harmless, caused evacuations and shutdowns of the bank branches and a city building while the Police and Fire Departments investigated. No person or group immediately claimed responsibility for the mailings.



Five of them were branches of Wells Fargo and one was the Park Avenue headquarters of JPMorgan Chase. At one Wells Fargo branch in Midtown, the powder received there was determined to be cornstarch, the police spokesman said.



A city official said two of the letters sent to banks read in part: This is a reminder that you are not in control. Just in case you needed some incentive to stop working. We have a little surprise for you. Think fast. They ended with, Happy May Day.



