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FBI releases anthrax probe papers FBI spells out anthrax evidence
(about 1 hour later)
A US judge has unsealed FBI documents on its investigation into the deadly anthrax attacks of 2001 and the role of a scientist who has killed himself. A US scientist who killed himself last week had been in possession of anthrax "identical" to that which killed five people in 2001, new FBI papers say.
The papers have been made public, and politicians and relatives of the victims hope they will shed light on the actions of Dr Bruce Ivins. Dr Bruce Ivins also sent an email a few days before the anthrax attacks, warning Osama "Bin Laden terrorists" had access to anthrax, the FBI says.
Dr Ivins killed himself last week after being told he would face charges over the murder of the five victims. The FBI papers detail its probe into the anthrax letters, which unsettled a nation already traumatised by 9/11.
Anthrax was posted in letters shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks. Dr Ivins, 62, died shortly after being told he was about to be charged.
The letters to media offices and politicians further unsettled a nation already traumatised by 9/11. The FBI has been under pressure since his death to reveal the details of the investigation and its papers were unsealed by a judge on Wednesday.
The sole deadly biological attack on US soil also left 17 people ill. FBI director Robert Mueller briefed the victims and their families about the case.
Key questions One of those who attended the closed-doors session in Washington, Senate Sgt at Arms Terence Gainer, told AP news agency that those there were informed there was no evidence anyone else was involved in the anthrax attacks.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington ordered the release of hundreds of pages of FBI papers. Overdose
The papers say Dr Ivins had possession of anthrax spores with "certain genetic mutations identical" to those used in the sole deadly biological attack on US soil.
ANTHRAX PANIC, 2001 First anthrax-laced letter is mailed on 18 Sept, 2001Florida sees first of five deaths, three weeks laterThe dead are two postal workers in Washington, a New York hospital worker, a Florida photo editor and an elderly woman in ConnecticutPanicked Americans try to stock up on antibiotic CiproPostal depots shut for de-contamination; mail is irradiatedSenate offices shut for weeksHoaxes become an almost daily occurrencePlans to deal with a biological weapons attack updatedANTHRAX PANIC, 2001 First anthrax-laced letter is mailed on 18 Sept, 2001Florida sees first of five deaths, three weeks laterThe dead are two postal workers in Washington, a New York hospital worker, a Florida photo editor and an elderly woman in ConnecticutPanicked Americans try to stock up on antibiotic CiproPostal depots shut for de-contamination; mail is irradiatedSenate offices shut for weeksHoaxes become an almost daily occurrencePlans to deal with a biological weapons attack updated
FBI director Robert Mueller has briefed the victims and their families about the findings behind closed doors in Washington. The letters were sent to media offices and politicians a few days after 9/11.
Correspondents say the release of the papers shows the FBI is ready to end its investigation into the attacks, although officially the case will remain open for the time being. FBI agents had traced the type of envelope used for the anthrax-laced letters back to the army biological weapons laboratory in Fort Detrick, Maryland, where Dr Ivins worked.
Also on Wednesday a memorial service was being held for Dr Ivins at his work place - the army biological weapons laboratory in Fort Detrick, Maryland. The investigation initially centred on one of Dr Ivins's colleagues, Dr Steven Hatfill. He later sued the justice department and won a $5.82m (£2.94m) settlement this June.
Dr Ivins oversaw anthrax, and vaccines for it, and took part in the investigation into the attacks. One of the affidavit's now made public says Dr Ivins tried to frame an unnamed co-worker.
The key questions for which answers will be sought in the papers include:
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  • When and why did Dr Ivins become a suspect?
  • Was DNA matched from the anthrax letters to a batch of anthrax controlled by Dr Ivins? If so how?
  • Was Dr Ivins trying to test out a new vaccine by releasing the anthrax? Would he have benefited financially from vaccine production?
  • Why would Dr Ivins have travelled so far to post the anthrax letters?
 It also says Dr Ivins, who took part in the investigations into the letter attacks, submitted false anthrax samples to the FBI.
Dr Ivins, 62, died in hospital on Tuesday last week apparently after an overdose. The papers say Dr Ivins was immunised against anthrax in early September 2001.
One affidavit says Dr Ivins reported to a co-worker that he suffered "incredible paranoid, delusional thoughts at times" and "'feared that he might not be able to control his behaviour".
The email that Dr Ivins was said to have sent prior to the attacks used language similar to that in the anthrax letters, it was alleged.
The release of the papers coincided with a memorial service for Dr Ivins at his work place in Fort Detrick.
Dr Ivins died in hospital on Tuesday last week apparently after an overdose.
A lawyer for Dr Ivins said after his death that he had suffered "relentless accusation and innuendo", and that his innocence would have been proven in court.A lawyer for Dr Ivins said after his death that he had suffered "relentless accusation and innuendo", and that his innocence would have been proven in court.
But a social worker said in filed court documents that Dr Ivins had "a history dating to his graduate days of homicidal threats, plans and actions towards therapists".But a social worker said in filed court documents that Dr Ivins had "a history dating to his graduate days of homicidal threats, plans and actions towards therapists".