A letter addressed to
US President Barack Obama apparently containing ricin has been intercepted. Initial
tests on the letter, identified at a remote facility, showed the presence of
the lethal toxin. The letter, which arrived at the facility on 16 April, is
related to another laced with ricin intended for a US senator, the FBI said.
The FBI said there
was "no indication of a connection" between the letters and Monday's
deadly attack on Boston. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the
letters addressed to the president and Republican Senator Roger Wicker were
both postmarked Memphis, Tennessee, and dated 8 April.
The letters read:
"To see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its
continuance," according to US media citing intelligence sources. They were
reportedly signed: "I am KC and I approve this message." The contents
of the letter intended for President Obama were being sent to an accredited
laboratory for further analysis, the FBI said, with results expected in 24 to
48 hours.
Ricin, extracted from
castor beans, is 1,000 times more toxic than cyanide. It can be fatal when
inhaled, swallowed or injected, although it is possible to recover from
exposure.
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