Ricin Tainted Letter Sent to Senator and Possibly the President 461
An anonymous reader writes "A letter addressed to Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) was tested and found to contain ricin, a highly toxic, inexpensive, and easily produced substance derived from castor beans. The letter was intercepted at the U.S. Capitol's off-site mail facility and nobody has been injured. The letter was postmarked Memphis, Tennessee, but listed no return address. Sen. Claire McCaskill told reporters that a suspect has been identified."
And, this morning, a letter addressed to the President was discovered containing a suspicious substance. Update: 04/17 16:25 GMT by U L : And the substance is ricin. Apparently, air filters at another facility have also tested positive for ricin.
Here we go again (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Profile of attacker already available.. (Score:5, Interesting)
It's also an odd set of choices. The senator, going by his interest group endorsements and voting record, is pretty much a stock Missisippi conservative. Apparently a trifle too fond of earmarks to be a real hit with team Tea Party; but solid numbers on pro-life, pro-gun, anti-tax. The choice of him and the president(Obama's reputation for liberalism is only deserved in certain areas; but boy is it ever persistent...) just seems rather dissonant.
As an expression of general distaste, you'd expect them to hit the president and, say, the majority and minority leaders, or the Appropriations Commitee. As an expression of a specific ideology, you'd expect targets that are all opposed to it...
Re:Half-wits know better than this (Score:2, Interesting)
Yes, this has to be theater. Guaranteed to fail in the objective of hurting someone, but guaranteed to succeed to ratchet up the public's fear level due to a scaremongering press.