The Hindu : Ricin found in Senator's room

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

International

International

Ricin found in Senator's room

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 3. At least three complexes of the Senate of the United States will be shut down on Tuesday following the discovery of the deadly toxin, ricin, in the mailroom of the Majority Leader, Bill Frist, on Monday afternoon.

While the Senate and the House of Representatives are likely to stay on their schedules, at least three Senate offices — the Hart, Dirksen and Russell — are being shut down.

The Chief of the Capitol Hill Police, Terrance Gainer, said that tests of a white powdery substance found in the mailroom indicated the presence of ricin.

Mr. Frist said he considered the incident a terrorist activity.

Even as more definitive test results were awaited for later on Tuesday, at least 16 persons, who were in the mailroom, had been de-contaminated and others who might have been in the area had been asked to contact the Senate officials.

Last October, ricin was found in a letter at a postal handling facility in South Carolina and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has a $100,000-reward posted.

The Dirksen and the Hart buildings were two of the most affected in the 2001 anthrax attacks that left at least five persons dead and 13 sickened in four States and the District of Columbia.

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