Quality of anthrax baffles experts

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, OCT. 17. Investigative agencies in the United States are baffled how such a purified form of anthrax could have found its way to the Senator, Mr. Tom Daschle's office on Monday. The clear suggestion is that this variety of anthrax is highly refined and produced by experts.

In Capitol Hill, authorities have shut down part of the Hart Building that houses Mr. Daschle's office and hundreds of people, including journalists, have been tested.

Lawmakers are worried with the new trend in the anthrax bacteria. At least one unnamed enforcement official has been quoted as saying that the anthrax discovered in Washington was in such a pure form that it could be used as a weapon. In fact, Mr. Daschle said the letter contained ``a very potent form of anthrax that clearly was produced by someone who knew what he or she was doing''. The letters sent to Mr. Daschle's office and to the NBC anchorman, Mr. Tom Brokaw, in New York were released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that showed strong similarities in handwriting and style.

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Section  : International
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