A man who identified himself as “Hank,” the state employee who opened a package addressed to Gov. Martin O’Malley containing an incendiary device Thursday afternoon, was back at work today in the Jeffery Building – handling packages and in good spirits.

O’Malley identified the employee as Hank on Thursday. When a Baltimore Sun reporter caught up to him today, he declined to give his last name. He was in the lobby of the Jeffrey Building at 1 p.m. carrying a U.S. Postal Service box in his hands.

“Everything’s fine,” said the Eastern Shore native. “I’m fine.”

Wearing a number five Baltimore Ravens jersey, he proclaimed with a smile, “It’s purple Friday!” But the mailroom employee, who has worked there for “a couple of years” said although the governor’s office had given him the go-ahead to talk to the news media, he wanted to stay “private.”

“That’s OK, thanks,” he said, quickening his pace as he walked from the Jeffrey Building onto State Circle with another mail room employee. “I know I can talk. I just don’t want to.”

His gloveless fingers, which the state police said had been “singed” by the flash of fire that ignited when he opened the package, appeared undamaged as he held tight to the postal box.

“I’m fine,” Hank repeated.

-Nicole Fuller