Feb 23, 2006 4:31 pm US/Eastern
CBS2 Classics: 2001 Anthrax Attacks
Five deaths from contaminated letters mailed that autumn
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Just days after the traumatic events of Sept. 11, 2001, New York City and the nation are jolted again by acts of terrorism. But instead of horrific mass murder and destruction, the attacks this time are more subtle, more widespread, and perhaps, even more chilling.
Starting in late September 2001 and continuing for several weeks, a series of contaminated letters were mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, first to major news media organizations and members of the U.S. Senate, and then, to regular people.
Click here to watch a CBS2 Classic on anthrax attacks against major media companies Click here to watch a CBS2 Classic on more anthrax attacks against news organizations Click here to watch a CBS2 Classic about CBS News receiving dangerous anthrax lettersThe crimes remain unsolved, and the investigative trail appears to be ice cold.
The letters contained spores from the anthrax bacteria, a virus that is serious, sometimes fatal, and often debilitating.
Anthrax is caused by a bacteria that usually affects cattle, sheeps, and goats. Spores are like sleeping cells that can be rejuvenated. The disease is not communicable among humans but people can be infected by exposure to the spores. Victims suffer sores, swelling, fever, pneumonia, blood poisoning and death.
The rash of anthrax attacks in the autumn of 2001 eventually afflicted 22 people, 11 of them with the life-threatening inhalation variety. Five people died as a result and millions across the country were terrorized the bacteria could wind up at their doorstep.
Victims of the attacks ranged from some of the top network news anchors and newspapers to leading members of Congress to postal workers and just plain folks. The dead included a man in Florida, two workers at a postal facility in Washington, D.C., a 61-year-old woman who lived alone in The Bronx, and the last known victim, a 94-year-old widow in Connecticut.
Click here to wacth a CBS2 Classic on the death of a woman in The Bronx from anthrax contamination Click here to watch a CBS2 Classic about the death of a woman in Connecticut from anthrax poisoningSeveral FBI agents and Postal inspectors continue on the cases. There were some similarities in the various attacks. The two letters sent to senators both had a return address in New Jersey, but it was a fictitious street in a fictitious town. The handwriting on several seemed similar too. Each letter contained the deadly spores, some stronger doses than others.
In 2003, the Pentagon released the results of a report on the 2001 anthrax incidents. The report concluded that the nation was poorly prepared and equipped to respond to a bioterrorist assault.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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