Anthrax

Attacks
2001
Anthrax
An infectious,
usually fatal
disease of warm-
blooded animals,
especially of cattle
and sheep, caused
by the bacterium
Bacillus anthracis.
 Transmitted
The disease can be
transmitted to
humans through
contact with
contaminated
animal substances,
such as hair, feces,
or hides, and is
characterized by
ulcerative skin
lesions
Anthrax Cycle
 First Hit
First attack was
one week following
the 9/11 attacks
Sent from Trenton
to CBS News, NBC
News, ABC News,
and the New York
Post all located in
New York City.
 The First Note
The letter sent to The New York Post
contained a note saying:
09-11-01
THIS IS NEXT
TAKE PENACILIN NOW
DEATH TO AMERICA
DEATH TO ISRAEL
ALLAH IS GREAT
 Death Attached
One other letter was
sent to the National
Enquirer at America
Media, Inc. in Boca
Raton, Florida
Robert Stevens-
first to die from
Anthrax while
working at the Sun
(under AMI)
 The Next Affected
October 9, 2001-
the date of the next
two letters sent from
same Trenton return
address

Sent to Senators Tom

Daschel and Patrick
Leahy of South
Dakota and Vermont
 The Next Killed
October 15,
2001-
Government postal
service is shut
down due to
Daschels aide
opening the
infected letter
 Next Letter Found
November 16,
2001- Leahy
letter found in mail
bag unopened in
Sterling, Virginia
where postal
worker, David Hose
was killed by
inhalation Anthrax
 Letters to Senators
The letters read:
09-11-01
YOU CAN NOT STOP US.
WE HAVE THIS ANTHRAX.
YOU DIE NOW.
ARE YOU AFRAID?
DEATH TO AMERICA.
DEATH TO ISRAEL.
ALLAH IS GREAT.
The Letters Found
 Comparing
First 4 letters-
Anthrax in form
of a granular,
brown
substance- only
causing
cutaneous
anthrax (skin
infections)
 Comparing Cont.
Second 2 to the
senators and the
Sun- in form of
white, powdery
substance- causing
inhalation Anthrax
Both from the
same bacterial
strain
Tracking the Letters
 REWARDS
A reward was
posted for
anyone who
came forward
for $2.5 million
from U.S Postal
Service, F.B.I.
and AVDO, Inc.
 Suspects
Many theories
erupted about
who sent the
anthrax, but no
one was tried:
Came from a
Military laboratory
American public
became paranoid
and afraid
 More Theories
Philip Zach and
Dr. Steven Hatfill
both named as a
person of intrest
but both denied it
Zach worked where
Anthrax originated
Dr. Hatfill worked at
Fort Detrick at a
medical research
facility studying
biological warfare
 Contamination
Afterwards,
countless buildings
were infected and
contaminated
-had to be
fumigated by
chlorine dioxide
FBI suggests total
clean-up cost was
about $1 billion
THE END