FBI Name Scientist as Anthax Suspect

by Tim Reid
The London Times
August 2, 2002
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2701-372448,00.html



FBI agents investigating last year’s anthrax attacks in America returned to the home of a former Army scientist yesterday to search the contents of his flat for the second time.

In a significant announcement the FBI said that the scientist, Stephen Hatfill, was now a possible suspect in the anthrax attacks, which killed five people and left 13 others infected.

The federal agents also said that the search of his apartment near Fort Detrick, Maryland — the second search of the premises in recent weeks — was “more formal and extensive”.

At the end of June Dr Hatfill, who previously worked for the Army Medical Institute of Infectious Disease, gave his consent for the FBI to search his apartment. He was also questioned about deadly anthrax mailings last year, which closed Capitol Hill and terrified the population in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

On June 25 FBI agents, some in protective clothing, removed computer components and at least a half-dozen rubbish bags full of material from Dr Hatfill’s flat, near the centre where Dr Hatfill worked for two years on biological warfare defence research. But officials said no trace of anthrax was found in his home or at a storage unit he rented in Florida.

Yesterday agents wearing protective gloves could be seen again searching rubbish bins outside the flat.

Copyright 2002 Times Newspapers Ltd.

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