Egyptian ship suspected of carrying anthrax for terror attack

HAARETZ ^ | Monday, April 28, 2003 | By DPA

[miltonim]

Egyptian ship suspected of carrying anthrax for terror attack

TABATINGA, Brazil - Brazilian police were "90-per-cent" sure that a death on an Egyptian cargo ship was caused by a load of anthrax that was to be used in terrorist attacks, news reports said Monday.

An Egyptian sailor on board, Ibrahim Saed Ibrahim, died April 11 in Para in northern Brazil from hemorrhaging believed to be caused by the bacteria, Brazil's Forensics Medicine Institute said. He was believed to have breathed in anthrax spores when he opened a suitcase on the ship.

The craft stopped in Brazil on its way to Canada and the cargo might have been destined for attacks in the United States, said the chief of the Brazilian Federal Police, Geraldo Araujo.

"It is clear that there is a suspicion that it could be terrorism," he said. "There is a 90-per-cent probability that it is anthrax."

Araujo was set to meet with Brazilian Justice Minister Marcio Thomaz Bastos to discuss the case. A test on Friday will confirm whether the death was caused by anthrax.

[Bigg Red]

Yikes!!!

[flamefront]

on its way to Canada and the cargo might have been destined for attacks in the United States

No doubt.

Borders! Borders! Borders!

[spyone]

any doubt that prior anthrax attacks came via the middle east?

[demnomo]

This can't be true. We have been repeatedly told by government officials that anthrax attacks (like those that occurred in the late fall of '01) are usually perpetrated by lone right-wing nuts like that Hatfield guy. Powdered Anthrax is too sophisticated for terrorists. The FBI and CIA even developed a "profile" that discounted a Middle Eastern male or group of Middle Eastern males. That would be profiling...

Yeah, right.

[aristeides]

Egyptian Sailor Dies in Brazil From Anthrax- Brazil Police.

[curmudgeonII]

The symptoms shown by this sailor are not those found in anthrax [vomiting, etc.].

[maranatha]

Let's keep an eye out for follow-up stories on this.

[aristeides]

Go on the other thread, and you'll find they are symptoms of inhalational anthrax.

[SevenDaysInMay]

But this found in Iraq. Gov. Dean, aka medical Dr. Dean hasn't decided that Iraqies are better off without Saddamn.

[pfflier]

The craft stopped in Brazil on its way to Canada and the cargo might have been destined for attacks in the United States,

They were looking for the path of least resistance.

[Lucas1]

The path of LEAST resistance is STRAIGHT into the United States...NOT having to go through both Canada and US customs. Give me a break...

These terrorists don't have to come through Canada. 9/11 proved that...

They can just come straight into the US.

[Mr. Mojo]

Here's an idea:

Place the National Guard on the f/king borders!

[pfflier]

Are you serious? At least some semblance of security is being exercised at US seaports. On the other hand. Miles of US-Canadian border are un-patrolled.

Attempting to enter a US port has a higher probability of failure due to sheer rotten luck, than entering through North Dakota.

[bvw]

Yes, sir. Homeland Security! Is what department of that is "Brazil"? Is it around the corner from the "Legal Diamond Overlords", or the "Color Code Selection Team"?