Mail center workers back on job

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Concerned postal workers returned to their jobs a day after a package ignited at the sorting facility in Washington D.C., officials said.

No one was injured when the parcel briefly flashed into flames Friday, but workers at the government mail facility said the incident reminded them of the 2001 anthrax scare that killed two of their colleagues, The Washington Post reported.

The incident at the V Street annex in Northeast came a day after two similar parcels containing incendiary devices singed the fingers of Maryland employees handling mail at state government buildings.

"It brings back feelings from the anthrax happening," said Dena Briscoe, president of American Postal Workers Local 140. She described workers at the mail facility as shaken and anxious.

Investigators believe all three incidents are connected.

"We're fairly confident all three incidents are related," said Rich Wolf, a spokesman for the FBI field officer in Baltimore. The Joint Terrorist Task Force there is in charge of the investigation.

The parcel in Washington was addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The Maryland parcels were addressed to Gov. Martin O'Malley and state Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley.