Super Bowl Terror Threat? Suspicious Powder Sent To 5 Hotels Near MetLife Stadium

While folks across parts of Northern New Jersey and New York City continue to celebrate the festivities leading up to MetLife Stadium’s hosting of Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, multiple reports indicated Friday afternoon that a white powdery substance was found at five hotels around the area where the game will be played. Authorities found the powder at multiple hotels and at the Manhattan office of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Along with members of the FBI, bomb squad and HAZMAT teams were sent to each location to uncover the identity of the substance.

According to ESPN, Carlstadt, New Jersey Police Detective John Cleary told reporters that a person inside an Econo Lodge located the substance in an envelope Friday. In addition to the findings at the Econo Lodge, authorities reported findings at the Homewood Suites and Renaissance Inn, both hotels located in the Super Bowl host city of East Rutherford. Additional envelopes containing the substance were taken out of a mail truck prior to their deliveries at a Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn, which are both located in Carlstadt.

Hoping to ease the concern of those in the area of the findings, the New Jersey State Police released a statement saying that no injuries have been recorded while indicating that authorities remain on location should an additional course of action arise. Materials found and tested have not been determined dangerous, but further tests will continue to come. “The Joint Terrorism Task Force and Hazard Materials units have responded to several locations that have received a suspicious letter and substance,” NJ State Police said. “There are no reported injuries at this time, and the locations are being secured.”

The envelope delivered for former Mayor Giuliani’s office was said to contain a non-toxic substance while the letter sent to the Homewood Suites in East Rutherford was determined to be filled with cornstarch, according to East Rutherford Mayor James Cassella.

Super Bowl XLVIII between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks is set to kick off on Sunday, February 2 at 6:25pm, ET.