- News>
- World
FBI investigating discovery of Ricin in envelope in US
Washington, Oct 23: A vial containing the deadly poison Ricin was found inside an envelope at a South Carolina postal facility, federal officials said. The FBI was investigating but terrorism was not suspected.
Washington, Oct 23: A vial containing the deadly poison Ricin was found inside an envelope at a South Carolina postal facility, federal officials said. The FBI was investigating but terrorism was not suspected.
"Based on the evidence obtained so far, we do not believe this is linked to terrorism but is related to threats criminal in nature," Brian Roehrkasse, spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said yesterday.
A letter inside the envelope referenced legislation in Congress involving truckers and included an extortion threat against the government, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The envelope carried the typewritten message "caution-Ricin-poison" on the outside, according to a statement issued by the Greenville county sheriff's office. It arrived at a Greenville postal facility between 2 am and 3 am on October 15.
A postal worker noticed the wording and law enforcement officials were summoned. The letter was sent to the centers for disease control and prevention, which determined Tuesday that the vial contained Ricin. Officials would not say to whom the envelope was addressed or where it was postmarked. The federal law enforcement official did say the letter was not addressed to a government official.
Postal service spokesman Gerry McKiernan said tests on the envelope and the outside of the vial showed that none of the toxin escaped. Bureau Report
A letter inside the envelope referenced legislation in Congress involving truckers and included an extortion threat against the government, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The envelope carried the typewritten message "caution-Ricin-poison" on the outside, according to a statement issued by the Greenville county sheriff's office. It arrived at a Greenville postal facility between 2 am and 3 am on October 15.
A postal worker noticed the wording and law enforcement officials were summoned. The letter was sent to the centers for disease control and prevention, which determined Tuesday that the vial contained Ricin. Officials would not say to whom the envelope was addressed or where it was postmarked. The federal law enforcement official did say the letter was not addressed to a government official.
Postal service spokesman Gerry McKiernan said tests on the envelope and the outside of the vial showed that none of the toxin escaped. Bureau Report