FBI investigates Anthrax scare in Alabama
January 6th, 2010 - 12:05 am ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt
Birmingham, Jan 5 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The FBI is investigating the envelopes, which contains white powder that were sent to the offices of senators and congressmen in Alabama. These envelopes have set off anthrax scares in five Alabama cities on Monday. Because of this scare, the investigators have closed down two federal courthouses and also detained Rep. Jo Bonner, R-AL, in his office while they tested the powder. “Each letter contained a small bag with a white powdery substance, and neither of these bags were opened,” said Mike Lewis, a spokesman for Bonner.
After testing the white powder, the investigators didn’t find that the letters have tested positive for anthrax or other hazardous substances. Investigators are looking at the whole case and think that at least five of the letters were believed to be from the same source. Even though the white powder didn’t turn out to be anthrax, but the investigators refused to divulge what it was in reality.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said letters also were sent to the offices of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and U.S. Sens. Jeff Sessions in east Montgomery and Richard Shelby in the federal courthouse in downtown Montgomery. FBI spokeswoman Angela Tobon said all the letters sent to the lawmakers’ offices appeared to be from a common source. Chuck Spurlock, Sessions’ state director, said that the employees notified the FBI of the suspicious letter and closed the office about noon. He said he received notification late Monday afternoon that the letter did not contain anthrax.
Postal inspector Tony Robinson said the investigating agency was offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
- Letters With White Substance Found In Alabama Trigger Anthrax Scare - Jan 05, 2010
- FBI commences investigation into suspicious letters sent to schools containing white powder - May 09, 2011
- Biden's brother in white powder from India scare - Oct 03, 2011
- Missouri convict sentenced for threatening U.S. Judge of Lincoln, NE - Mar 23, 2010
- Connecticut man charged with sending hoax anthrax letters and bomb threats nationwide - Sep 24, 2010
- US embassy workers treated for poison after opening mail - Jul 30, 2010
- Bristol Palin 'fan mail' containing white powder, threats rocks DWTS - Nov 20, 2010
- Biden's brother hospitalized after anthrax mail scare - Oct 03, 2011
- Hundreds evacuated from Sydney office building over white powder scare - Feb 22, 2011
- Biological terror attack real and challenging: US official - Oct 19, 2011
- Cops investigating pig's foot sent to US congressman's Washington office - Apr 05, 2011
- Homeless accused of threatening President Obama sentenced to 20 years - Aug 24, 2010
- Californian Male Receives A Prison Term Of 20 Years In The Case Of Swindle Anthrax Letters - Aug 24, 2010
- Jacksonville, FL Muslim receives white powder in mail - Jun 09, 2010
- Envelope with white powder found at US embassy in Israel - Sep 15, 2010
Tags: alabama birmingham, alabama cities, anthrax scare, bonner, federal courthouse, federal courthouses, hazardous substances, investigating agency, jeff sessions, mike rogers, monday afternoon, postal inspection service, postal inspector, powdery substance, richard shelby, source chuck, spurlock, state director, suspicious letter, tony robinson