Posted on 06/29/2003 1:25:16 AM PDT by BagCamAddict
Report: FBI Ends Searching Anthrax Pond Report: FBI Finished Searching Pond for Clues Into Anthrax Attack
The Associated Press FREDERICK, Md. June 29 —
FBI agents finished searching a pond for clues in the 2001 anthrax attacks on Saturday, finding no additional evidence to immediately suggest any links to the case, a report said.
The FBI this month drained the 4- to 5-foot deep pond in the Frederick Municipal Forest, where authorities believed the suspect may have filled the envelopes with deadly spores under water for his own protection.
The work drew FBI agents, other law enforcement officials and contractors, who operated dump trucks and backhoes at the site several miles northwest of the city.
The Washington Post, citing law enforcement officials, said the FBI took soil samples from the bottom of the pond for testing.
Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty said the FBI told her "they found a bicycle, some logs and a street sign," leaving the items for workers to dispose of in a public landfill, the Post reported.
Law enforcement officials said other items found in the pond included coins, fishing lures and a handgun, which was handed over to local authorities, according to the newspaper.
Dougherty said the FBI told her they were done at the pond.
"They are leaving. I don't have any expectation that they'll be back in this area, in the watershed." But she added: "They've given us no indication that they're out of Frederick County."
The FBI began draining the one-acre pond in the Frederick Municipal Forest on June 9.
The attacks killed five people and sickened 17 others who were infected by anthrax bacteria sent through the mail.
The pond is eight miles from the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, the primary custodian of the strain of anthrax found in envelopes sent to the victims.
Dr. Steven Hatfill, a bioterrorism expert who formerly worked as a researcher at the institute, has been described as a "person of interest" in the investigation. His apartment was next to Fort Detrick.
Hatfill has denied any involvement in the attacks.
The pond is one of 10 searched by divers in December and January after the FBI reportedly received a tip that someone may have used the spring-fed reservoir to assemble anthrax-filled envelopes using equipment submerged in water.
Thank goodness they didn't find a white van in the pond.
Submerged for your protection.
Too funny.
Maybe the FBI got clued into this wacky hypothesis by their bloodhounds?
Whatever's really going on, it's hard to believe that the FBI really thought it would find anything in this pond.
Draconian acts of terrorism demand draconian acts of punishment when caught or criminal acts remain nothing more than a team sport for losers. Till Uncle Sugar decides to kick some butt for real other countries will consider kindness a weakness. War is not nation building and nation building is not war and never the two should meet. Kick ass with the warriors and let the warm and fuzzy huggers move in after the fact for the reclaimation work.........:o) ........Just my opinion of course !
Stay Safe !
Pathetic.
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