Ricin found in letter to US Senate office

US mail authorities intercepted a letter bound for the Washington office of Senator Roger Wicker that contained the poison ricin, a Senate leadership aide said Tuesday.

The letter was detected during a routine inspection of mail at an off-site facility and did not reach the US Capitol or Wicker's office, the aide said, citing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who briefed lawmakers about the security breach, AFP reported.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano briefed senators about the incident during a closed-door meeting Tuesday evening on the Boston bombings, the Senate aide told reporters.Wicker released a brief statement saying the matter is under investigation by the FBI and US Capitol Police.

"I want to thank our law enforcement officials for their hard work and diligence in keeping those of us who work in the Capitol complex safe," he said. "Gayle and I appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers. "Officials gave no indication why the letter was sent to Wicker, a Republican two-term Senator from the southern state of Mississippi. They also made no mention of whether anybody fell ill during the incident.