Facebook facility evacuated after sarin scare

by Harper Neidig - 07/01/19 4:52 PM ET

A mailing facility in Menlo Park, Calif., owned by Facebook was evacuated Monday after the nerve agent sarin was reportedly detected.

Facebook spokesman Anthony Harrison said the incident began in the morning when a package in the mail room was “deemed suspicious.”

{mosads}”Out of an abundance of caution, we evacuated four nearby buildings and began a thorough investigation in coordination with local authorities,” Harrison said.

“Authorities have confirmed test results were negative for any potentially dangerous substance and the buildings have been cleared for repopulation,” he added. “Our rigorous security and safety procedures worked as intended to limit exposure and keep our people safe.”

A local ABC affiliate reported that the FBI and National Guard were called in to assist.

According to the outlet, fire officials said that everyone in the facility was safe, but two people were examined for possible exposure.

Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman told the Los Angeles Times that no one had been exposed and that an open-air test for sarin had been negative.

“Sometimes machines make mistakes,” Schapelhouman told the Times. “This is a standard package-handling call we’re dealing with.”

—Updated on July 2 at 7:40 a.m.

Tags ABC News Facebook Nerve agent Sarin