Timeline: Began on September 18, 2001, one week after the September 11 attacks.
Method: Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to U.S. senators and news media offices.
Impact: Killed five people and infected 17 others.
Investigation: Described by the FBI as "one of the largest and most complex in the history of law enforcement."
Key Locations
Washington, D.C.
West Palm Beach, Florida
New York City
Oxford, Connecticut
Princeton, New Jersey
Targets
U.S. Senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy
Media figures and organizations including ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, the New York Post, and American Media, Inc.
Casualties
Deaths: 5, including Bob Stevens, Thomas Morris Jr., Joseph Curseen, Kathy Nguyen, and Ottilie Lundgren
Injured: 17
Investigation Details
Accused: Bruce Edwards Ivins, a scientist at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
Exonerated: Steven Hatfill was initially a suspect but later exonerated.
Key Evidence: DNA evidence linked to an anthrax vial in Ivins' lab.
Controversy: Doubts were raised regarding Ivins' involvement due to insufficient scientific evidence.
Attack Letters
First Wave: September 18, 2001. Letters mailed to media organizations.
Second Wave: October 9, 2001. Letters sent to Senators Daschle and Leahy.
Contents: Notes mentioning "Death to America, Death to Israel, Allah is Great."
Material: Letters to senators contained highly refined anthrax powder.
Scientific Investigation
Ames Strain: Identified as the strain used, common in U.S. bio-research labs.
DNA Sequencing: Conducted by The Institute for Genomic Research.
Radiocarbon Dating: Determined anthrax was cultured no more than two years before the attacks.
Controversies
Coatings and Additives: Initial reports suggested anthrax was weaponized with silica; later findings disputed this claim.
Silicon Content: High levels of silicon found, raising questions about weaponization.
Al-Qaeda and Iraq Blame: Initial suspicions of foreign involvement were not supported by evidence.
Law Enforcement and Government Response
FBI Efforts: Extensive investigation involving interviews, searches, and subpoenas.
Anthrax Archive: Destruction of Iowa State University anthrax archive hampered investigation.
Government Actions: Increased funding for biological warfare research and preparedness.
Legal and Political Consequences
Court Cases: Multiple lawsuits and settlements, including Steven Hatfill's defamation case.
Congressional Oversight: Calls for independent investigations and hearings.
Conclusion
Investigation Closure: FBI formally closed the case in 2010, naming Ivins as the sole perpetrator.
Ongoing Doubts: Many experts and political figures continue to express skepticism about the conclusions reached by the FBI.
Legacy
The anthrax attacks led to significant changes in U.S. public health policies and emergency preparedness, and remain a significant event in discussions of bioterrorism.