BREAKING NEWS: Mysterious powder found in downtown

WBNS 10TV ^ | 10/10/2001

[Mago]

Area around Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging closed off.

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 MedicalCenter for decontamination. Samples from the powder willbe tested to determine exactly what the substance is.

[EuroFrog]

I would be more likely to think these packets of white powder would show up to be nothing. However, it should be kept in mind its a possibility we could be being tested - get all of our local forces to respond to something that isnt really a threat while something else is going on "they" dont want us to see them doing. Diversionary tactics.....

[American Soldier]

I am personally glad to see something being done about these occurences now instead of the FedGov's original line/lie about us not having to worry about the first anthrax case in Florida. All this is just a dress rehearsal so that hopefully we'll be ready once the terrorists release (a) airborne anthrax or (b) smallpox, which can be passed person to person so might require the use of federal law enforcement and the military to quarantine large areas. So in my mind it's better if people are used to seeing a bunch of fellows in uniform isolating different areas and not whine and moan about how they've been inconvenienced or how it forced them to miss a dental appointment -- because there will be more of that to come in the future.

[American Soldier]

I am personally glad to see something being done about these occurences now instead of the FedGov's original line/lie about us not having to worry about the first anthrax case in Florida. All this is just a dress rehearsal so that hopefully we'll be ready once the terrorists release (a) airborne anthrax or (b) smallpox, which can be passed person to person so might require the use of federal law enforcement and the military to quarantine large areas. So in my mind it's better if people are used to seeing a bunch of fellows in uniform isolating different areas and not whine and moan about how they've been inconvenienced or how it forced them to miss a dental appointment -- because there will be more of that to come in the future.

[CELTICGAEL (Celt)]

Per WBNS TV Columbus Ohio...They took three people to Grant Hospital. They are taking blood and did a nasal swab to test for Anthrax. Right now they are hosing down the fire trucks. Moreover, they hosed down the people as well. Parts of downtown are still blocked off. They are going to sent the three people home.

[Endeavor]

Would that be the powder that Illinois is going to pound the Buckeyes into when they play this year?

[Bekki4Bush]

Dream On!.LOL I think you have been sniffin some funny white powder!

[jpl]

What is it that automatically makes a powder "mysterious"?

Ask Bill Clinton. From what I hear he's got a nose like a vacuum. He's probably snorted more "mysterious white powder" than 95% of the population.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

--I expect them now to send out one zillion false alarm harmless powder mailings. Then after a month or so, the 'real stuff' all on one day.

My working hypothesis for the moment is that a group of terrorists (Al Qeida or other) managed to get hold of a very small quantity of Anthrax spores, and to smuggle this in to the USA. The tabloid offices targeted because they were certain that would be a high profile target that would be hyped in the weeks following.

In order to achieve maximum panic and terror effect, this action was accompanied by mailing a large number of packages containing one or more types of white powder (instant milk? flour? lime?) to a widely dispersed set of targets. These were probably mailed over several days to assure that there would be a continuous flow of news stories to keep the panic impact at a maximum.

Assuming that the terrorists did not have the ability to make the Anthrax spores themselves, this becomes an extremely low-tech, low-cost terrorist attack. True, not many people are killed. But it is a mistake to assume that mass murder is the sole objective of terrorists. Fomenting mass panic works for them as well.

The proper response should be neither panic nor glib denial. Anyone receiving a suspicious package should contact the authorities, and they will be handling it just as they have in this and the other stories that have been posted.

[Greg Weston]

Not a #19 fan??

[Endeavor]

...and your momma wears combat boots. Wouldja like to bet on that? Pick your sport - football OR basketball.

[CELTICGAEL (Celt)]

Would you please stop making me laugh sweetie. I guess we all can dream!

[phalynx]

I bought a package of powdered doughnuts this morning and immediately turned them over to police after noticing a white powder on them. The policeman smiled and politely asked for a cup of coffee....

[SC DOC]

Ask Bill Clinton. From what I hear he's got a nose like a vacuum

Maybe Bush can appoint X-42 head of the "White Powder" task force.

[Endeavor]

Hey! Don't take away my vision of the Illini pounding those Buckeyes - it's all I've got!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

THIS JUST IN:

MYSTERIOUS WHITE POWDER FOUND AT ARM & HAMMER PLANT!

FILM AT ELEVEN.

[No Truce With Kings]

Geeze -- with a 10-pound bag of flour terrorists could shut down half of America's 10 largest cities.

Just think of the panic you could create with a 50-pound bag of flour!

[_Jim]

They took three people to Grant Hospital. They are taking blood and did a nasal swab to test for Anthrax

Ha ha ha.

'Instant acting anthrax' - huh?

I DON'T think so darlin ...

[Mudboy Slim]

LOL...MUD

[PushinTin]

EMail from the shark population;

HEY!! Were still out here...

[Jack Barbara]

We had white stuff coming down last from the sky last weekend... turned out to be hail. At least that's what the FBI said after they tested it -- but between you and I, I think they're not telling us the whole truth.