Package Raises a Stink at Post Office

The Associated Press
Thursday, June 14, 2007; 11:14 PM

WASHINGTON -- A foul-smelling package that led to the evacuation of a post office next to the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum contained two cans of spinach and a dirty diaper, authorities said.

"No wonder it smelled," said Deborah Yackley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service. "I don't know why it was being mailed."


District of Columbia police work outside of the Post Office building at Massachusetts and North Capitol Streets, where a suspicious package was found Thursday, June 14, 2007, in Washington. The package, a box with no postage and no mailing address, was emitting a foul odor and was later found to contain two cans of spinach and a dirty diaper. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
District of Columbia police work outside of the Post Office building at Massachusetts and North Capitol Streets, where a suspicious package was found Thursday, June 14, 2007, in Washington. The package, a box with no postage and no mailing address, was emitting a foul odor and was later found to contain two cans of spinach and a dirty diaper. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin - AP)

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A postal worker alerted police shortly before 11 a.m. after spotting the smelly package sitting on a counter with no one around to claim it, authorities said. The package had no postage and no address.

District of Columbia police bomb technicians X-rayed the package and a hazardous materials team inspected it before determining that it contained nothing dangerous. The evacuation lasted several hours.


© 2007 The Associated Press