ANTHRAX MAIL SCARE GROUNDLESS IN L.A.

Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer

The FBI was investigating possible anthrax threats at several Los Angeles area foreign consulates and embassies after workers said they found a white powdery substance in letters received in the mail, officials said Wednesday.

Agents trained in investigating hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction were dispatched on Wednesday to several consulates and embassies to investigate.

``Everything tested negative,'' said Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesman Matt McLaughlin.

Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn was briefed about the letters shortly after 5 p.m., spokesman Matt Middlebrook said.

``We were told there were letters sent to four consulates in San Francisco and five in Los Angeles - all Muslim consulates,'' Middlebrook said. ``We were told the letters contained threats.''

The letters appeared to have Stanford University business school return addresses, Middlebrook said. Officials did not identify the consulates.

Tests on the letters in San Francisco showed they contained talcum powder, Middlebrook said.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI has investigated a number of threats and hoaxes in the region, and all turned out to be nothing, McLaughlin said.

Staff Writer Rick Orlov contributed to this story.