Az
1st August 2008, 11:18 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7536890.stm
A top US scientist suspected of anthrax attacks in 2001 has apparently killed himself just as he was about to be charged, a newspaper reported.
The Los Angeles Times said government scientist Bruce Ivins, 62, had taken an overdose of painkillers.
The paper said that he had recently been told of the impending prosecution. The US justice department has not yet commented on the report.
Five people died when anthrax was posted to the media and politicians.
The incidents took place shortly after the 11 September attacks in 2001.
Security measures in the wake of the anthrax attacks temporarily closed a Senate building and increased the public's fears of vulnerability to terrorism.
As well as the five deaths, more than 20 other people were made ill.
Exonerated
The LA Times said Mr Ivins had worked at the government biodefence research laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland, for the past 18 years.
As a microbiologist he helped the FBI investigate anthrax-tainted envelopes.
Investigators focused more on Mr Ivins after another scientist at the Fort Detrick laboratory, Dr Steven Hatfill, was exonerated of any involvement.
Dr Hatfill had been named a "person of interest" in the case in 2002.
He sued the justice department, saying it had violated his privacy rights by speaking to reporters about the case.
In June, the US department paid Dr Hatfill $5.82m to settle the lawsuit.
This is great.
A top US scientist suspected of anthrax attacks in 2001 has apparently killed himself just as he was about to be charged, a newspaper reported.
The Los Angeles Times said government scientist Bruce Ivins, 62, had taken an overdose of painkillers.
The paper said that he had recently been told of the impending prosecution. The US justice department has not yet commented on the report.
Five people died when anthrax was posted to the media and politicians.
The incidents took place shortly after the 11 September attacks in 2001.
Security measures in the wake of the anthrax attacks temporarily closed a Senate building and increased the public's fears of vulnerability to terrorism.
As well as the five deaths, more than 20 other people were made ill.
Exonerated
The LA Times said Mr Ivins had worked at the government biodefence research laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland, for the past 18 years.
As a microbiologist he helped the FBI investigate anthrax-tainted envelopes.
Investigators focused more on Mr Ivins after another scientist at the Fort Detrick laboratory, Dr Steven Hatfill, was exonerated of any involvement.
Dr Hatfill had been named a "person of interest" in the case in 2002.
He sued the justice department, saying it had violated his privacy rights by speaking to reporters about the case.
In June, the US department paid Dr Hatfill $5.82m to settle the lawsuit.
This is great.