The anthrax scare that is sweeping the US are linked to the September 11th attacks, a member of America's cabinet says.
Mr Tom Ridge, the newly appointed director of homeland security, is the latest senior figure to link Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda organisation to the anthrax finds.
So far one man has died and at least two adults and a seven-month-old baby have been infected in the outbreak.
Mr Ridge said: "It's more than coincidence, and we don't have the credible evidence - it's somewhere in between."
But in spite of America's history of internal terrorism, there seems to be little doubt among Americans that bin Laden has masterminded the anthrax outbreaks. There have also been suggestions from experts that Iraq is involved.
Mr Michael Powers, a researcher at the Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute in Washington DC, said: "Usually to produce that quality of anthrax requires a fairly high level of technological sophistication, which to my mind indicates some sort of state sponsorship."
And Mr Richard Spertzel, former United Nations chief biological weapons inspector in Iraq, said: "The quantity that's involved, that's within the capability of any dedicated individual that's determined to do it."
But in the American heartland, public opinion is firmly behind the view expressed by President George W Bush when he said: "We are going to make sure we connect any dots to find out who is doing this.
PA