PROVIDENCE — The Providence Journal newsroom yesterday became one of more than three dozen media outlets around the country that received hoax letters containing packets of sugar that were labeled anthrax.

Members of the Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team, along with local and state police, descended on the Journal newsroom after the Journal’s interim executive editor, Thomas Heslin, notified the FBI that a letter similar to one that had been received by other news organizations had been mailed to the newsroom.

The letters are believed to have been sent by Marc M. Keyser, a 66-year-old California man who was arrested yesterday by the FBI on three counts of sending a hoax letter. Officials said Keyser has a record of sending hoax letters, and is believed to have sent out as many as 120 letters this time.

Journal city editor Timothy Murphy said a manila envelope contained a CD decorated with what appeared to be a photo of former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaking at the United Nations, along with the words “Anthrax: Shock & Awe Terror.” On the outside of the disc container was a small packet of sugar labeled “Anthrax Sample.”

Murphy said the letter was first opened by a Journal editorial assistant, who then passed it on to another assistant who thought it was “some sort of record promotion.” She put the package in Murphy’s inbox, where it stayed until about 5:30 p.m., when Murphy saw a story about the anthrax hoax from the Associated Press. He took the letter to Heslin, who notified the FBI.

Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Henry Cochrane and HazMat Capt. Jeffrey Varone said they planned to have the state Department of Health pick up the letter and its contents for analysis. Unlike the situation at some newsrooms, Journal employees were not evacuated.

“Even though the letter appears to have been a hoax, we had to take it seriously,” Heslin said. “We appreciate the response of the Police and Fire Department.”

rdujardi@projo.com