Anthrax hoaxes

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Anthrax hoaxes involving the use of white powder or labels to falsely suggest the use of

FBI and U.S. postal inspectors have responded to thousands of "white powder events" and targets have included government offices, US embassies, banks and news organizations.[1][2]

History

Anthrax hoaxes were sporadically reported in the 1990s,

white supremacist. Harris released what he said was military-grade anthrax but was actually a harmless vaccine strain, but news coverage popularized the idea of anthrax among hoaxers.[7][8] In response to these hoaxes, the CDC released guidance for public health authorities for handling bioterrorism threats.[9]

Post-2001

Suspect letter with white powder that was dealt with by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management emergency responders. It was a hoax.

In the month following the 2001 anthrax attacks, hundreds of hoaxes were reported worldwide.[10][11][12] Legislation was enacted in the UK in October 2001 so that anyone convicted of a hoax involving threats of biological, chemical, nuclear or radioactive contamination would face a seven-year prison sentence.[13] The Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act 2001 was passed by the US House of Representatives[14] but never enacted,[15] and legislation making terrorism hoaxes a federal offence was finally passed as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.[16][17][18]

Cases

One of the most prolific hoaxers was

U.S. Department of Homeland Security and public for an anthrax attack. He was convicted in September 2009 of five counts of hoaxes and making threats[22][23] and sentenced to four years in prison in late April 2010.[24]

In November 2008, white powder was mailed to temples of

Proposition 8.[25]

Notable recipients of anthrax hoax letters include journalist

Judith Miller, author of Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War, who received one at the New York Times offices in October 2001.[26]

References

  1. ^ Drogin, Bob (8 March 2009). "Anthrax hoaxes pile up, as does their cost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  2. ISBN 978-1-60239-715-6
    .
  3. ISBN 1-4101-0023-5
    .
  4. ^ Wald, Matthew L. (24 April 1997). "Suspicious Package Prompts 8-Hour Vigil at B'nai B'rith". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  5. ^ Bailey, Ronald (10 October 2001). "Anthrax Attack?". Reason. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  6. ^ Kristof, Nicholas D. (12 July 2002). "The Anthrax Files". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  7. PMID 10458952
    .
  8. ^ "The Harris Hoax". ADL. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  9. PMID 10023627
    .
  10. PMID 14981556
    .
  11. ^ Harris, Paul (21 October 2001). "Anthrax hoax chaos". The Observer. London. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  12. ^ Kasindorf, Martin; Toni Locy (6 November 2001). "Anthrax hoaxes persist despite arrests". USA Today. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  13. ^ Murphy, Joe (21 October 2001). "Spore hoaxers face jail terms from today". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  14. ^ DePledge, Derrick (14 November 2001). "DeWine proposes tough law on anthrax hoaxes". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  15. ^ "H.R. 3209: Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act of 2001". Govtrack. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  16. ^ "Violators of Military Hoaxes Act could receive fines, prison time" (PDF). CID Lookout. U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  17. ^ Eggen, Dan (10 December 2004). "Measure Expands Police Powers". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "S. 2845: Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004". Govtrack. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  19. ^ "US anthrax hoax suspect arrested". BBC News. 6 December 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  20. ^ "Man is convicted in anthrax hoax case". Associated Press. 3 December 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  21. ^ Clarkson, Frederick (10 December 2003). "The quiet fall of an American terrorist". Salon. Archived from the original on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  22. ^ Walsh, Denny (18 September 2009). "Sacramentan convicted for sending anthrax hoax messages". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 10 December 2009. [dead link‍]
  23. ^ "Calif. man convicted in nationwide anthrax scare". Salon. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ "gsn.nti.org". Archived from the original on 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  25. ^ "White powder sent to Mormon temples". Associated Press. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  26. ^ Herbert, Bob (15 October 2001). "In America; Living With Fear". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
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