Anthrax Attacks

2001

Anthrax• An infectious,

usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals, especially of cattle and sheep, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

Transmitted• The disease can be

transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated animal substances, such as hair, feces, or hides, and is characterized by ulcerative skin lesions

Anthrax Cycle

First Hit• First attack was

one week following the 9/11 attacks

• Sent from Trenton to CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, and the New York Post all located in New York City.

The First Note• The letter sent to The New York Post

contained a note saying:09-11-01

– THIS IS NEXT – TAKE PENACILIN NOW – DEATH TO AMERICA – DEATH TO ISRAEL – ALLAH IS GREAT

Death Attached• One other letter was

sent to the National Enquirer at America Media, Inc. in Boca Raton, Florida

• Robert Stevens- first to die from Anthrax while working at the Sun (under AMI)

The Next Affected• October 9, 2001-

the date of the next two letters sent from same Trenton return address

• Sent to Senators Tom Daschel and Patrick Leahy of South Dakota and Vermont

The Next Killed• October 15,

2001- Government postal service is shut down due to Daschel’s aide opening the infected letter

Next Letter Found• November 16,

2001- Leahy letter found in mail bag unopened in Sterling, Virginia where postal worker, David Hose was killed by inhalation Anthrax

Letters to SenatorsThe letters read:– 09-11-01 – YOU CAN NOT STOP US. – WE HAVE THIS ANTHRAX. – YOU DIE NOW. – ARE YOU AFRAID? – DEATH TO AMERICA. – DEATH TO ISRAEL. – ALLAH IS GREAT.

The Letters Found

Comparing • First 4 letters-

Anthrax in form of a granular, brown substance- only causing cutaneous anthrax (skin infections)

Comparing Cont.• Second 2 to the

senators and the Sun- in form of white, powdery substance- causing inhalation Anthrax

• Both from the same bacterial strain

Tracking the Letters

REWARDS• A reward was

posted for anyone who came forward for $2.5 million from U.S Postal Service, F.B.I. and AVDO, Inc.

Suspects• Many theories

erupted about who sent the anthrax, but no one was tried:– Came from a

Military laboratory– American public

became paranoid and afraid

More Theories– Philip Zach and

Dr. Steven Hatfill both named as a “person of intrest” but both denied it

• Zach worked where Anthrax originated

• Dr. Hatfill worked at Fort Detrick at a medical research facility studying biological warfare

Contamination• Afterwards,

countless buildings were infected and contaminated

-had to be fumigated by chlorine dioxide

• FBI suggests total clean-up cost was about $1 billion