Woman arrested at New York-Canada border after ricin letter posted to White House

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of posting an envelope containing the deadly poison ricin to Donald Trump.

The letter was intercepted earlier this week before it reached the White House.

The woman was taken into custody by US Customs and Border Protection officers at the New York-Canada border. She was expected to face federal charges, officials said. Her name was not immediately released.

The letter addressed to the White House appeared to have originated in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said.

A woman suspected of sending an envelope containing the poison ricin, which was addressed to White House, has been arrested at the New York-Canada border (AP)

It was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and Mr Trump. A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, according to the officials.

There have been several prior instances in which US officials have been targeted with ricin sent through the mail.

In 2014 a man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters dusted with ricin to President Barack Obama (Getty Images)

A Navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and confessed to sending envelopes to Mr Trump and members of his administration that contained the substance from which ricin is derived. The letters were intercepted, and no one was hurt.

In 2014, a Mississippi man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters dusted with ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials.