Pittsburgh, PA - Packages Sent To Area Synagogues Were Harmless

Pittsburgh, PA - The FBI says reports of suspicious packages sent to several local synagogues earlier today are no cause for alarm.

Authorities say the letters were reported to be suspicious because they did not have any return address; but further investigation revealed that at least two of these "suspicious packages" were merely informational mass mailings.  Three of the four packages were sent to Tree of Life and Beth Shalom Synagogues in Squirrel Hill as well as the Rodef Shalom Synagogue in Oakland.

Police briefly closed off some nearby streets as a precaution.
After officials examined two of the packages, though, FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen said that they were harmless. "Because of the volatile situation in the Middle East, everybody responded promptly," Killeen said. "Those who received the material thought the items were suspicious, so they reported it as they should."