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A hazmat squad raided a home in Irvine, California, after a concerned homeowner reported suspicious activity on Monday (February 23). Upon arrival, police requested assistance from the Orange County Fire Authority's hazmat team, which led to the involvement of the FBI later that night. The FBI has taken over the investigation, working alongside local authorities, including the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
In a statement, the FBI confirmed, "There is no known threat to public safety. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to provide additional information at this time." The raid comes amid heightened scrutiny of potential biohazard threats, following recent discoveries of unauthorized biolabs in California and Nevada.
In a related incident, a suspected biolab was discovered in Las Vegas, linked to Chinese national Jia Bei Zhu, who was arrested in 2023 for manufacturing and distributing misbranded medical devices. The Las Vegas home contained refrigerators with vials of unknown liquids, and the FBI is analyzing over 1,000 samples collected from the site.
As the investigation continues, authorities remain cautious, ensuring public safety while examining the mysterious items found in the Irvine residence.