Mail investigated at Israeli embassy

Update, 7:35 p.m.:

A spokesman for the D.C. fire department says it's not clear what the substance was that was found today in the Israeli embassy's mailroom. But traffic restrictions near the building in the Van Ness neighborhood of Northwest Washington have been lifted.

Fire department spokesman Pete Piringer says the investigation has been turned over to the Secret Service and authorities at the Israeli embassy.

Earlier:

Local and federal authorities are investigating an unidentified substance found this afternoon in a piece of mail in the Israeli embassy's mailroom.

Pete Piringer, spokesman for the D.C. fire department and emergency medical services, said that authories were called to the embassy in the Van Ness neighborhood of Northwest Washington shortly after 4 p.m. They are now preparing to evaluate the substance, along with the U.S. Secret Service and District police.

No one at the embassy was found to be affected by the substance and it is being assessed in a cordoned-off area, Piringer said.

-- Ian Shapira