'New York Times' Employee Receives Powder-Filled Envelope

By: Joe Strupp The New York Times building in mid-Manhattan was sealed for several hours Friday after an employee reportedly received an envelope containing a suspicious powder.

A Times spokeswoman said the lockdown was ordered at 11:50 a.m. and remained in place. Employees on the third and fourth floors, which house the editorial department, were evacuated to locations elsewhere in the building, a spokeswoman said. Some fourth-floor employees had been allowed to return to their desks by early afternoon as New York City police continued to investigate.

Inside.com identified the Times employee as Judith Miller, a reporter and Middle East expert who has authored at least one book on germ warfare. Miller could not be reached for comment.