US: US Senate Majority leader Bill Frist confirmed yesterday that the deadly poison ricin was found in the mailroom of his Senate office, but said the powder appeared to have been contained and that people exposed to it have so far shown no signs of ill health.
In a scene stirring memories of a 2001 anthrax attack, Police Chief Terrance Gainer said a criminal investigation involving the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force had been under way since the powder was discovered in Senator Frist's office on Monday.
The police chief, in a news conference with Senator Frist and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, said it is uncertain whether the ricin powder was in an envelope or a package, or whether it came through the mail. "The room has been isolated, the material in there has been isolated. Anything that was in or around that room that we know of has been contained," Senator Gainer said.
"The investigation is under way and we now have the technology that we wouldn't have had a couple of years ago to expedite it," said Senator Daschle.
In Connecticut, an envelope containing a suspicious powder was found in a post office overnight and officials said it was addressed to the Republican National Committee. The powder is being tested.