FBI shuts 2001 anthrax case

In one of the largest investigations in the nation, the officials have concluded that the troubled scientist was solely responsible for the anthrax attacks.

The attacks, which began in Sept 18, had terrorized the nation, as citizens were still reeling under the effects of Sept 11 attacks.

Committing the act of bio-terrorism, Ivins, a researcher at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, had mailed anthrax laced letters to several news media offices and two Democratic U.S. Senators, thus killing five people and infecting 17 others.

Investigative round up
After the attacks, FBI started investigating the issue. The probe, which lasted for eight years, spanned six continents. The officials scrutinized more than 1000 individuals and gathered 6,000 items of possible evidence.

Eventually all the suspected, who had earlier been the focus of attention, were ruled out and attention shifted to Ivins.

In 2007, it was determined that anthrax spores used in the letters were created in a laboratory in Maryland maintained by the scientist. The investigators reached this conclusion, noting that Ivins worked alone till late night in the lab where spores were grown and harvested.

Strengthening the earlier evidence, the officials have also released the transcript of the tape conversation, suggesting that Ivins might be responsible for the attacks.

"I, in my right mind, wouldn't do it," Ivins was quoted as saying in June 2008.

"It worries me when I wake up in the morning and I've got all my clothes and my shoes on, and my car keys are right beside there,” he added.

The transcript is among hundreds of evidences, hinting that Ivins had solely perpetrated the attacks.

Ivins committed suicide in July 2008, after authorities recovered enough evidence suggesting that he had committed acts of bio-terrorism.

Likely reasons for attacks
In a 92 page summary of the investigation, FBI has concluded that Ivins was among few of the researchers in the nation who had the knowledge to create the deadly powder.

He committed the attacks due to "intense personal and professional pressure,” states the report.

Ivins, in his entire twenty year career, had devoted himself to the development of anthrax vaccine but had feared that his vaccine program might be phased out.

He launched the anthrax attack with the hope to create a scare in the nation, aimed at saving his vaccine program.

"Following the anthrax attacks, however, his program was suddenly rejuvenated," added the report.

A little about the deadly spores
Anthrax is an acute disease which can affect both humans and animals.

The anthrax spores, produced in vitro, are dormant and can survive harsh conditions for extremely long periods of time.

These spores, if inhaled, ingested or contacted to the skin, reactivate and multiply quickly to infect or kill animal or human host.