Ricin in letter sent to White House

Federal officials have intercepted an envelop e addressed to the White House that contained the poison ricin.

The letter appeared to have originated in Canada, according to a statement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which said it was assisting the FBI

The letter was intercep te data government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump. A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans.

Federal investigators were working to determine where the enveloped originated. The FBI, the Secret Service and the US Postal Inspection Service were leading the investigation.

The FBI said agents were working to investigate “a suspicious letter received at a US government mail facility”.

A navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and confessed to sending envelopes to Mr Trump that contained the substance from which ricin is derived.