US authorities investigating anthrax attacks are examining the activities of a senior research scientist who was twice fired from a company that produces the deadly bacterium, ABC Newsreported.
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Microscope image of anthrax bacteria Photo: Reuters
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Citing federal authorities, the network said the scientist, once employed at the Battelle Company, a secret anthrax-producing facility in Columbus, Ohio, made a threat to use anthrax in the days after the September 11th attacks.
According to ABC, the US has been producing small quantities of weapons-grade anthrax for several years at two locations - the US Army Dugway Proving Ground in Utah and at the Battelle Company - which does the work for the CIA and the military.
Anthrax-tainted letters were sent to two US senators and to media outlets by an unknown perpetrator in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington. Five people have died from inhalation anthrax since early October and 13 have been infected.
As part of its investigation into the anthrax cases, the FBI is interviewing current and former scientists at Battelle and the Utah facility.
Some 200 US scientists dealt with the anthrax programme over the past five years, ABCsaid, citing federal authorities.
FBI and Defense Department officials had no comment on the report.