FBI investigates after fifth suspicious letter containing white powder found at Seattle synagogue

Law enforcement is investigating after another letter with white powder was sent to a Seattle synagogue Monday evening.

This is the fifth confirmed suspicious letter sent to a Jewish institution in the area in the last four days.

Seattle Fire Department HAZMAT crews were dispatched to the North Seattle synagogue and at 9:35 pm, announced that the materials inside the envelope were deemed non-hazardous and that Seattle police would be taking over the investigation.

A congregant told KOMO News, "I went to open up the mail and heard that other synagogues received suspicious letters, and the description matched what the others received. I opened up the box and saw the letter, then closed the box and called the police."

On Friday night, just before the Jewish Sabbath, two synagogues in the Seward Park neighborhood of Seattle received suspicious envelopes with a white powdery substance in them, prompting a HAZMAT response and a probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with other law enforcement agencies. 

A third suspicious letter was sent to the Hillel at the University of Washington and a fourth was found Saturday morning at a nearby synagogue.

One of the synagogue's vice presidents, Jack Gottesman, told the media "Unfortunately, this isn't a surprise, given the nature of anti-Jewish sentiments and protests and rallies that have taken place globally since the Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel." 

"This is something that our community has learned to deal with. But we're strong, we're proud, and we're not running away. Our congregation has been here for 110 years, we're not leaving," he added. 

Synagogue leader and editor at The Post Millennial Ari Hoffman added, "We are not running, we are not hiding, we are here, and we are always going to be here," he said.

Seattle police and the FBI are investigating.

This is a developing story.