Mysterious White Powder in Columbus, Ohio

WBNS 10 TV | Oct.10, 2001 | myself

[Sunshine55]

WBNS TV in Columbus, Ohio is reporting a mysterious powder has been found in a "business sized" envelope in Downtown Columbus. It was delivered to a building and it came from an Ohio doctor. Supposively there was some writing that looked like Arabic writing... I have no more details to report because I'm at work. I just got this from my 14 yr. old daughter.

[dennis1x]

Powdered donuts. We must clear them from the shelves before its too late.

[TomGuy]

I got a strange business-looking envelope at my home.
Am afraid to open it...it looks suspicious.
Need to call the FBI and hope they will dispose of it.
Says its from the electric company. Yeh, right!
(/sarcasm)

[mountaineer]

Was the doctor a pediatrician? Baby powder!

[DSHambone]

Anthrax on the Brain?

If FDR got one thing right in his whole life it was: "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. "

[Gun142]

BREAKING NEWS: Mysterious powder found in downtown Columbus Area around Central Ohio

Area Agency on Aging closed off
 Staff Report
WBNS-10TV EYEWITNESS NEWS


     A section of downtown Columbus has been blocked off -- and several people taken to the hospital for decontamination -- after the discovery of a mysterious white powder at a building Wednesday afternoon.

     The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, 174 E. Long St., has been evacuated as a precaution, and the area surrounding the building is closed off.

     Sgt. Earl Smith of the Columbus Police Department tells 10TV that a business-sized envelope contained the powder. The letter was from a doctor here in Ohio, though we do not know whether it was hand-delivered or sent through the mail.

     10TV has learned between 10 and 15 people, including firefighters, are being taken to Grant Medical Center for decontamination. Samples from the powder will be tested to determine exactly what the substance is.

     This comes one day after a mysterious powder was found at the IRS processing center in Covington, Kent., just across the border from Cincinnati. The person who discovered that substance was taken to the hospital to be decontaminated, and several others were taken in for observation. Preliminary tests were negative.


Copyright 2001 WBNS-TV, Inc.
A Dispatch Broadcast Group Station

http://www.10tv.com/news/archive/printlocal.php?story=101001local1089

[Common Tator]

So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself

Fear itself? Doesn't he wrestle for the WWF. An in this corner wrestling at 325 lbs.... Fear Itself.

[MizSterious]

If I were a terrorist, or even a nutcase prankster for that matter, I think the dandiest way of getting people riled up is to send someone an envelope of white powder--flour, baby powder, baking soda--any number of items might fill the bill. I have no idea what real anthrax looks like--is it white and powdery?--but I do know that while vigilence is always wise, panic is not.