biological weapons

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As Families See Evidence, FBI Set to End Anthrax Probe

How feds traced attack to Ivins is key question

(Newser) - The FBI began releasing details of its investigation into the 2001 anthrax mail attacks to families of the victims today, the AP reports, with information to be made public within hours on judge’s orders. The agency is ready to end its probe, with sources telling the Wall Street Journal ...

Anthrax Expert Could Have Cashed In on Panic

Ivins had share in patents for a vaccine

(Newser) - Bruce Ivins, the government scientist linked to the deadly 2001 anthrax mailings who committed suicide this week, stood to profit from a panic set off by the killings, the Los Angeles Times reports. Ivins, who was close to being charged by the FBI when he killed himself, was listed as...

Feds Were Closing In on Anthrax Expert

They planned to indict, seek death penalty; scientist killed himself

(Newser) - If Army microbiologist Bruce Ivins hadn’t killed himself, he might have been executed. Federal prosecutors were on the verge of indicting Ivins in the 2001 anthrax mail attacks that killed five people, and they would have sought the death penalty, the AP reports. One official says an ongoing grand...

Anthrax Case Scientist Commits Suicide

Microbiologist took drug overdose as investigators closed in

(Newser) - A government scientist in Maryland about to be charged in the 2001 anthrax attacks has apparently committed suicide, the Los Angeles Times reports. Microbiologist Bruce Ivins was questioned after the attacks for failing to report anthrax contamination at his workplace, but the investigation soon switched focus. Colleagues say Ivins became...

Scientists Close In on Antidote to Neurotoxin

Cure would block feared bioweapon that causes paralysis

(Newser) - Scientists are one step closer to developing an antidote to botulinum, a potentially devastating biological weapon, the BBC reports. Terrorists have tried, so far unsuccessfully, to deploy the neurotoxin, which is also the culprit in botulism and the secret behind Botox. A botulinum vaccine already exists, but the new drug...

WTC Blueprints Found in Trash
 WTC Blueprints Found in Trash 

WTC Blueprints Found in Trash

After huge security breach, vagrant spots documents

(Newser) - A vagrant sifting through a trash can found confidential blueprints for the Freedom Tower, the New York Post reports. Though the documents are not complete, they contain sufficient information, such as the thickness of the building’s concrete core and schematics of the ventilation system, to facilitate a potentially devastating...

Man Says He Had Ricin for Self-Defense

He admits having it in hotel, says he did not plan to hurt anyone

(Newser) - The Las Vegas man hospitalized by exposure to ricin in his hotel room told his brother he  did not intend to hurt anyone with it, the AP reports. Roger Bergendoff, who regained consciousness last week after a month, admitted possessing the biological agent but said it was for self-defense. "...

Man in Ricin Case Wakes Up

FBI questioning 57-year-old about toxin found in Las Vegas hotel room

(Newser) - The man at the center of the Las Vegas ricin investigation regained consciousness today, although he remains hospitalized in critical condition, the Associated Press reports. Roger Bergendorff, 57, had been in a coma since Feb. 14; he has already been questioned by FBI agents about the toxin—considered a "...

Man in Critical Condition After Stay in Ricin Room

No apparent terror motive in toxin mystery

(Newser) - A man who stayed in a Las Vegas hotel room where ricin was found yesterday has been hospitalized for 2 weeks after exposure to the toxin and is in critical condition, CNN reports. A friend retrieving his belongings discovered the ricin. "We don't know who it belongs to or...

'Terror Toxin' Found in Vegas
'Terror Toxin' Found in Vegas

'Terror Toxin' Found in Vegas

Police hunt source of container found in hotel room

(Newser) - Las Vegas police have discovered the deadly toxin ricin at a long-stay hotel, CNN reports. It's "100% ricin," said a police official. "We did have enough ricin to be concerned. At this point, it has been contained and is not a threat to anybody." Three policemen,...

Saddam Faked Nukes to Scare Iran, Not US: Agent

Did not believe US would invade over weapons of mass destruction

(Newser) - Saddam Hussein revealed in FBI interrogations that he had no nuclear or biological weapons of mass destruction, but hid that fact to avoid invasion by Iran—and was stunned when the US invaded. "For him, it was critical that he was seen as the strong, defiant Saddam to prevent...

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