Police check suspicious package at Muslim group’s office

Maha Sayed, staff attorney for the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), said the office received an envelope on December 10 containing a note that read, “Die a painful death, Muslims”, and a white powder. The group’s spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, says initial testing showed the substance was not harmful. The letter was described as hate mail.

CAIR executive director Nihad Awad says one person was coughing and another complained of a headache after the envelope was opened, but it wasn’t clear whether the symptoms were related to the substance.

Police in Washington confirmed they are investigating a suspicious package that was reported at the address for CAIR.

Police and emergency personnel responded to the scene. “This will not deter us from continuing to protect the civil rights and liberties of all Americans”.

“We’ve receive threats on a regular basis, been awhile since we’ve seen something like this”, he said.

The evacuation comes amid rising tension in the USA over terror threats.

The organisation condemned Donald Trump’s call for barring Muslims from the USA, calling his suggestions as “bigoted remarks”.

“Since the Paris attack, there has been a spike in hate crimes in the Muslim community in America”, Naeem told CNN.