FOLEY, Ala. — An anthrax scare shut down political offices throughout the state Monday, including the Foley office of Congressman Jo Bonner. Nine envelopes containing a white powdery substance were sent to the offices of Sen. Richard Shelby in Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile, U.S. Rep. Jeff Sessions in Montgomery, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in Anniston and Montgomery and Bonner's offices in Mobile and Foley.

Initial field testing determined the white powder substance not to be anthrax.

"We believe (the substance) is non-hazardous and poses no danger to public health," said Foley Fire Chief Joey Darby.

In response to the incidents, Bonner released a statement late Monday afternoon saying, “My Mobile and Foley congressional offices each reported receipt of suspicious looking letters containing a powdery white substance.

“Law enforcement was promptly notified and security precautions were undertaken while the contents of these letters were examined. Official tests of the two letters have found nothing harmful and my Mobile and Foley offices have since been cleared."

According to Darby, emergency officials responded to a suspicious envelope containing white powder at Bonner's Foley office around 10 a.m. The entire strip mall in which the office is located was immediately evacuated, except for a pair of Bonner office workers who were quarantined until the situation was deemed safe.

Regional assistance was provided by the Saraland Hazmat team. A pair of technicians entered the building and located the package. Initial on-site equipment tested a sample of the substance and showed negative results for anthrax.

The letters and substance have been sent to the FBI for further evaluation. According to Special Agent Angela Tobon with the Mobile FBI, early indications are that all of the letters are coming from the same source, though they are not releasing exactly what the letters said at this time.

Businesses along the strip mall reopened Tuesday.

"I wish to thank local, state and federal law enforcement officials for their immediate response and am grateful these letters ultimately posed no threat to the public," Bonner said. "My office is continuing to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate this incident and others statewide.”

GCN Sports Coordinator Eric Mann contributed to this report.