FBI intercepts poison-laced letter sent to Obama

A letter laced with poisonous substance ricin, sent to United States President Barack Obama, has been intercepted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency has confirmed.

The letter addressed to US President Barack Obama was intercepted by the FBI before it could reach its destination, the agency said on Thursday.

The FBI has now taken a lead into the investigation as similar letters were sent to New York Mayor Michele Bloomberg.

"The US Secret Service can confirm that the White House mail screening facility intercepted a letter addressed to the White House that were similar to letters previously addressed to Mayor Bloomberg in New York," said Edwin M Donovan, the Secret Service spokesperson.

"This letter has been turned over to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for testing and investigation," said Donovan.

Obama is aware of the issue, his spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

"The White House does have an offsite facility that processes the mail that we receive, so we have precautions that are in place for these kinds of things," he said.