This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7536890.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Anthrax 'suspect' is found dead US anthrax 'suspect' found dead
(about 4 hours later)
A top US scientist suspected of anthrax attacks in 2001 has died from an apparent suicide just as he was about to be charged, a newspaper reported. A top US scientist suspected of anthrax attacks in 2001 has apparently killed himself just as he was about to be charged, a newspaper reported.
The Los Angeles Times says government scientist Bruce Ivins was found dead after an overdose of painkillers. The Los Angeles Times said government scientist Bruce Ivins, 62, had taken an overdose of painkillers.
The paper said that he had recently been told of the impending prosecution. The paper said that he had recently been told of the impending prosecution. The US justice department has not yet commented on the report.
Five people died when anthrax was posted to media organisations and politicians in the US shortly after the 11 September attacks in 2001. Five people died when anthrax was posted to the media and politicians.
Mr Ivins, 62, had helped the FBI investigate anthrax-tainted envelopes as a microbiologist for a government laboratory. The incidents took place shortly after the 11 September attacks in 2001.
The newspaper said Mr Ivins had worked at the government biodefense research laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland, for the past 18 years. Security measures in the wake of the anthrax attacks temporarily closed a Senate building and increased the public's fears of vulnerability to terrorism.
Security measures
The US justice department has not commented on the newspaper report.
Security measures in the wake of the 2001 anthrax attacks crippled the US mail service and temporarily closed a Senate building.
As well as the five deaths, more than 20 other people were made ill.As well as the five deaths, more than 20 other people were made ill.
In June 2008, the US justice department agreed a multimillion-dollar settlement with another scientist at the Fort Detrick laboratory it had said was a "person of interest" in the anthrax attacks. Exonerated
Dr Steven Hatfill sued the department saying it had violated his privacy rights by speaking to reporters about the case. The LA Times said Mr Ivins had worked at the government biodefence research laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland, for the past 18 years.
He has denied any involvement in the attacks. As a microbiologist he helped the FBI investigate anthrax-tainted envelopes.
Investigators focused more on Mr Ivins after another scientist at the Fort Detrick laboratory, Dr Steven Hatfill, was exonerated of any involvement.
Dr Hatfill had been named a "person of interest" in the case in 2002.
He sued the justice department, saying it had violated his privacy rights by speaking to reporters about the case.
In June, the US department paid Dr Hatfill $5.82m to settle the lawsuit.