Thread: Envelope tests positive for ricin at Washington mail facility

Envelope tests positive for ricin at Washington mail facility

By Mike Brooks and Dana Bash, CNN
April 16, 2013 -- Updated 2218 GMT (0618 HKT)

Washington (CNN) -- An envelope that tested positive for the deadly poison ricin was intercepted Tuesday afternoon at the U.S. Capitol's off-site mail facility in Washington, congressional and law enforcement sources tell CNN.
After the envelope tested positive in a first routine test, it was retested two more times, each time coming up positive, the law enforcement source said. The package was then sent to a Maryland lab for further testing.
The envelope was addressed to a U.S. senator, though the sources would not say which one.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/16/us/tainted-letter-intercepted/?hpt=hp_t3

Senate Majority Leader Reid says letter with ricin or another poison sent to Sen. Roger Wicker http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...dd9_story.html

Sen. Wicker Blasted For Gun Control Vote

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Mississippians are taking aim at republican senator Roger Wicker's controversial vote that opens the door to possible gun control. Wicker was ...

Reid: Letter with ricin sent to Sen. Wicker

Cooper Allen, USA TODAY6:50 p.m. EDT April 16, 2013


Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., answers questions in Jackson, Miss., in this 2008 photo.(Photo: Rogelio V. Solis, AP)


An letter addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss, tested positive for ricin or another poison, says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., according to the Associated Press. The news was first reported by CNN.
The envelope, which was intercepted at an off-site Capitol mail facility tested positive three times for ricin, according to CNN, citing a law enforcement source. After that round of tests the envelope was transmitted to a lab in Maryland for additional tests.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/16/ricin-letter-wicker/2088969/

Who is trying to make an association between this alleged biological weapon terrorism attack and Senator Wicker's gun control vote????

W

I've never even heard of Wicker. He must not be very vocal on any issues or well known. His picture doesn't even look familiar. I had to read the article to find what state he was from.

Published: Tuesday, April 16, 2013, 4:40 p.m.

Senator: Police have suspect in ricin letter

By Donna Cassata, Associated Press



WASHINGTON -- An envelope addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi tested positive Tuesday for ricin, a potentially fatal poison, congressional officials said, heightening concerns about terrorism a day after a bombing killed three and left more than 170 injured at the Boston Marathon.

One senator, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, said authorities have a suspect in the fast-moving case, but she did not say if an arrest had been made. She added the letter was from an individual who frequently writes lawmakers.

The FBI and U.S. Capitol Police are both investigating.

Terrance W. Gainer, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, said in an emailed message to Senate offices that the envelope to Wicker had no obviously suspicious outside markings, bore a postmark of Memphis, Tenn., and lacked a return address.

He added there was "no indication that there are other suspect mailings," but urged caution.

The letter was discovered at a mail processing plant in Prince George's County in suburban Maryland, said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Wicker's office issued a statement saying "any inquiries regarding member security must be directed to the United States Capitol Police."

Capitol Police had no immediate comment.

But Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters of the letter, and other lawmakers said they had been provided information by the office of the Senate sergeant-at-arms.

Milt Leitenberg, a University of Maryland bioterrorism expert, said ricin is a poison derived from the same bean that makes castor oil. He said it must be ingested to be fatal.

"Luckily, this was discovered at the processing center off premises," Durbin said. He said all mail to senators is "roasted, toasted, sliced and opened" before it ever gets to them.

One law enforcement official said evidence of ricin appeared on preliminary field tests of the letter, although such results are not deemed conclusive without further testing. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation remains active.

The discovery evoked memories of the days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when mail laced with anthrax began appearing in post offices, newsrooms and congressional offices.

That included letters sent to Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., who was Senate majority leader, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Two Senate office buildings were closed during that investigation.

Overall, five people died and 17 others became ill. The FBI attributed the attack to a government scientist who committed suicide in 2008.

More immediately, though, the discovery came as lawmakers were demanding answers to the attacks in Boston a day earlier.

There was no evidence of a connection between the bombings and the letter addressed to Wicker, a Mississippi Republican. 　
　
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130416/NEWS02/704169852

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