UC Irvine Receives Fifth "Black Death" Envelope

A fifth envelope containing a white powder and a message with the words "black death" was discovered at UC Irvine, according to KCAL9. The envelope had the same return address as four others discovered previously.

Earlier in the day, a fourth envelope was discovered addressed to an assistant Dean of Biological Sciences and sent to the Natural Sciences II building. Authorities closed the office while tests were conducted for hazardous materials, according to University Spokesman Tom Vasich.

Field tests done by the FBI Tuesday showed the powder from 3 previous envelopes was not a biological hazard, such as anthrax.

Two envelopes were discovered Monday and a third was discovered Tuesday morning, according to Vasich. After the discovery, campus buildings were evacuated and HAZMAT arrived on scene.

The envelopes contained the words "black death" and had a return address in Idaho, Vasich said. UC Irvine police and the FBI have not determined a motive or ruled out any, including terrorism.

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