Suspicious Blood Vials Trigger Brief Evacuation at RNC HQ

The headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., was briefly evacuated after a suspicious package with two vials of blood was delivered. The area was closed off but reopened by mid-morning. Authorities are investigating the package source.

The headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., was briefly evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police said.

The RNC, the parent organization of the Republican Party, is playing a major role in the campaign of former President Donald Trump, who will face Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election. The authorities initially closed off one downtown block and directed staff and other personnel to avoid the area. By mid-morning, employees were re-entering the building, and police were leaving the scene, according to a Reuters witness.

"The source of the package and its contents will be further investigated," the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement. A RNC official familiar with the incident confirmed the building had been locked down because "vials of blood" had been delivered to the RNC.