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.

[motexva]

Everybody's so uptight, the terrorists could fill a cropduster up with distilled water and buzz the downtown of any good sized city - I bet the panic would kill as many people as their garden variety anthrax would.

[Frumanchu]

I talked to my mother an hour ago and she said there was a scare in downtown Cleveland today as well. She works in a building right near the Federal Building downtown. She said that it turned out to be nothing, but she was quite surprised by the immediate and large FBI presence, even in light of their proximity to the Fed Bldg.

[Cicero]

For what it's worth, anthrax isn't a white powder.

So far, there has been no follow-up in the news media on any of these numerous white-powder stories.

[mlo]

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

[formernyer]

So what would anthrax look like? Would you see anything?? Could it be in envelope?? Maybe the powder is a carrier substance that when blown away would allow the spores to go with it??? Help. I want to know what I should be on the look out for. THanks

[Bikers4Bush]

What time? I work in downtown as well and haven't seen or heard anything.

[sakic]

Maybe it's arriving in the form of a question mark.

[Common Tator]

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

When it is put on a very beautiful woman's face.

[metesky]

Hey, let's give to Mikey. He'll try anything!

[metesky]

Hey, let's give it to Mikey. He'll try anything!

[Labyrinthos]

For what it's worth, anthrax isn't a white powder.

I think the common anthrax variety found in the artic regions is white for the same reason artic rabbits and polar bears are white.

[Huck]

I wonder if they'll allow foul lines at Yankee Stadium tonight. It's a hitter's park already. With nothing but fair territory, it could get out of hand.

[metesky]

Sorry. <:O(

[NautiNurse]

FNC reporting that "powder" was found at U.S. State Department. They aren't evacuating at this point. They did turn off the air conditioner.

[R. Scott]

I hope the flour mills learn how to pack a ten pound sack of flour so it doesn't leak.
I have been watching CNN a bit more that usual lately, and have learned several things:
I have to be afraid of being near an airplane.
I have to be afraid of Arabic looking people.
I have to be afraid of crowds.
Now I have to be afraid of "mysterious white powder" – any white stuff that can't be instantly identified at a distance.
Ah the heck with it. I'm not a member of the media or the Hollywood Elite, so I'll just keep on keeping on.

[maxamillion]

Were all going to die!!!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Everyone needs to chill out a bit.

[Letitring]

I've heard it on CNN, and MSNBC. The IRS building thing yesterday was run, complete with pictures. Pictures of one in Florida. Showed the people being hosed down, etc. Saw this last night, and again today. Have heard updated coverage about this powder stuff on CNN and MSNBC, today. FBI labs are checking it out. Don't know what it is, yet, if anything.

[ruoflaw]

LOL on the dunce cap!