Anthrax us mail ivins
The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States were a series of terrorist attacks in which letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news media outlets and two U.S. Senators. The attacks were carried out by Bruce Ivins, a scientist at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) in Frederick, Maryland.
On September 18, 2001, just a few days after the 9/11 attacks, letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news media outlets, including NBC News, CBS News, and the New York Post. The letters were postmarked from Princeton, New Jersey, and were sent to the offices of Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).
The letters were opened by postal workers and others, leading to the spread of the anthrax spores. Over the next several weeks, a total of 22 people were infected with anthrax, and five of them died. The attacks caused widespread panic and disruption, and led to a massive investigation by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
In 2008, the FBI concluded that Bruce Ivins was the sole perpetrator of the attacks, and that he had acted alone. Ivins was a scientist at USAMRIID, where he had worked on the development of anthrax vaccines and treatments. He had also been involved in the development of the Ames strain of anthrax, which was used in the attacks.
The FBI's investigation was based on a variety of evidence, including:
- Forensic analysis of the anthrax spores: The FBI found that the anthrax spores used in the attacks were identical to the Ames strain of anthrax that Ivins had worked with at USAMRIID.
- Ivins' computer activity: The FBI found that Ivins had accessed his computer account at USAMRIID on the day of the attacks, and that he had searched for information on anthrax and bioterrorism.
- Ivins' behavior: The FBI found that Ivins had exhibited unusual behavior in the days leading up to the attacks, including a sudden change in his behavior and a lack of interest in his work.
- Ivins' motive: The FBI believed that Ivins had a motive for the attacks, as he had been struggling with mental health issues and had been under pressure to produce results in his research.
Ivins died by suicide in 2008, just before he was to be charged with the attacks. The FBI's investigation was criticized by some for its reliance on circumstantial evidence and for its failure to consider alternative theories about the attacks. However, the FBI's conclusion that Ivins was the sole perpetrator of the attacks remains the official explanation for the 2001 anthrax attacks.