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FBI
SAYS ANTHRAX BIO-TERRORIST MOST LIKELY AMERICAN LONER
WASHINGTON,
D.C., Nov 10 (IslamOnline and News Agencies) – According to statements
released by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at a press briefing
yesterday, it is likely that the person who mailed the three anthrax-laced
letters is more akin to American “Unabomber” Ted Kaczinski than to Osama bin
Laden.
The
FBI says that the profile of behavioral and linguistic patterns of the
bio-terrorist is that of a U.S.-based loner, most likely an adult male who works
in a chemical lab or somewhere with very little contact with other people.
The
FBI released a three-page profile of the suspect after studying the three latest
anthrax-laden letters and with evidence gathered from previous case studies.
The
Agency said that the three letters mailed to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle,
NBC television news anchor Tom Brokaw, and the New York Post newspaper,
contained brief letters that were most likely written by the same person.
The
FBI statement said the letters sent to Brokaw and the New York Post were
"identical copies."
The
FBI said that the terrorist is "apparently comfortable working with an
extremely hazardous material,” and "did not select victims
randomly." Instead, says the agency, the perpetrator "made an effort
to identify the correct address, including zip code, of each victim and used
sufficient postage to ensure proper delivery of the letters."
The
suspect is also "a non-confrontational person, at least in his public
life," who "lacks the personal skills necessary to confront
others." This person "may hold grudges for a long time," and
"may have chosen to anonymously harass other individuals or entities that
he perceived as having wronged him" in the past.
"We
don't have any evidence at this point linking this to any more than one
person," said James Fitzgerald, head of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.
The
mailer probably had anthrax stockpiled ahead of the deadly September 11 attacks,
Fitzgerald said. "He is an opportunist and took advantage of this [the
attacks on September 11] as a veil of secrecy," Fitzgerald added.
In
the end, the FBI is hoping that - as in the case of Ted Kaczynski, the so-called
“Unabomber,” who sent letter bombs and eluded agents for years - someone who
knows the culprit will come forward with information leading to his arrest.
Ted
Kaczyinski was turned in by his brother, David, in April of 1996. He was
sentenced under a plea bargain agreement to four consecutive life terms without
parole plus 30 years.
Speaking
on CNN late Friday, Attorney General John Ashcroft issued a plea for help.
"We
need the help of Americans to help us find the individual who's involved
here," he said.
Referring
to the three anthrax letters’ similarities, Ashcroft said the third letter, to
Daschle, contained a slightly different message and that the anthrax in it was
"much more refined, more potent" and more easily dispersed than that
in the other two letters.
The
FBI also reiterated Ashcroft’s call for help and asked the American public in
its statement “to study these assessments and reflect on whether someone of
their acquaintance might fit the profile. The safety of the American people is
at stake. If you have credible information that might help identify this person,
please contact 1-800-CRIMETV (274-6388), use www.ifccfbi.gov,
or call your local FBI field
office.”
Below
is the text of the FBI’s statement:
EVIDENCE
DESCRIPTION
Letter
1
One page, hand-printed letter
Transmittal envelope, also similarly hand printed
Addressed to "NBC TV – Tom Brokaw" – No return address
Postmarked Trenton, NJ 09/18/2001 (Tues.)
Letter
2
One page, hand-printed letter
Transmittal envelope, also similarly hand printed
Addressed to "NY Post" – No return address
Postmarked Trenton, NJ 09/18/2001 (Tues.)
Letter
3
One page, hand-printed letter
Transmittal envelope, also similarly hand printed
Addressed to "Senator Daschle – 509 Hart Senate Office Building"
Return address – "4th Grade, Greendale School, Franklin Park, NJ"
Return address zip code – "08852"
Postmarked Trenton, NJ 10/09/2001 (Tues.)
LINGUISTIC
ASSESSMENT
It
is highly probable, bordering on certainty, that all three letters were authored
by the same person. Letters 1 and 2 are identical copies. Letter 3, however,
contains a somewhat different message than the other letters. The Anthrax
utilized in Letter 3 was much more refined, more potent, and more easily
disbursed than letters 1 and 2.
In
the past, the public has helped the FBI solve high profile investigations that
involved writings by coming forward to identify the author, either by how he
wrote or by what he wrote. We are asking for the public's help here again in the
same way.
While
the text in these letters is limited, there are certain distinctive
characteristics in the author's writing style. These same characteristics may be
evident in other letters, greeting cards, or envelopes this person has written.
We hope someone has received correspondence from this person and will recognize
some of these characteristics.
The
characteristics include:
1.
The author uses dashes ("-") in the writing of the date
"09-11-01." Many people use the slash ("/") to separate the
day/month/year.
2.
In writing the number one, the author chooses to use a formalized, more detailed
version. He writes it as "1" instead of the simple vertical line.
3.
The author uses the words "can not," when many people prefer to spell
it as one word, "cannot."
4.
The author writes in all upper case block-style letters. However, the first
letter of the first word of each sentence is written in slightly larger upper
case lettering. Also, the first letter of all proper nouns (like names) is
slightly larger. This is apparently the author's way of indicating a word should
be capitalized in upper case lettering. For whatever reason, he may not be
comfortable or practiced in writing in lower case lettering.
5.
The names and address on each envelope are noticeably tilted on a downward slant
from left to right. This may be a characteristic seen on other envelopes he has
sent.
6.
The envelopes are of the pre-stamped variety, the stamps denoting 34 cents,
which are normally available directly from the post office. They are not the
traditional business size envelopes, but the smaller size measuring
approximately 6 1/4" x 3 ½".
BEHAVIORAL
ASSESSMENT
Based
on the selection of Anthrax as the "weapon" of choice by this
individual, the offender:
•
is likely an adult male.
•
if employed, is likely to be in a position requiring little contact with the
public, or other employees. He may work in a laboratory. He is apparently
comfortable working with an extremely hazardous material. He probably has a
scientific background to some extent, or at least a strong interest in science.
•
has likely taken appropriate protective steps to ensure his own safety, which
may include the use of an Anthrax vaccination or antibiotics.
•
has access to a source of Anthrax and possesses knowledge and expertise to
refine it.
•
possesses or has access to some laboratory equipment; i.e., microscope,
glassware, centrifuge, etc.
•
has exhibited an organized, rational thought process in furtherance of his
criminal behavior.
•
has a familiarity, direct or indirect, with the Trenton, NJ, metropolitan area;
however, this does not necessarily mean he currently lives in the Trenton, NJ,
area.. He is comfortable traveling in and around this locale.
•
did not select victims randomly. He made an effort to identify the correct
address, including zip code, of each victim and used sufficient postage to
ensure proper delivery of the letters. The offender deliberately
"selected" NBC News, the New York Post, and the office of Senator Tom
Daschle as the targeted victims (and possibly AMI in Florida). These targets are
probably very important to the offender. They may have been the focus of
previous expressions of contempt which may have been communicated to others, or
observed by others.
•
is a non-confrontational person, at least in his public life. He lacks the
personal skills necessary to confront others. He chooses to confront his
problems "long distance" and not face-to-face. He may hold grudges for
a long time, vowing that he will get even with "them" one day. There
are probably other, earlier examples of this type of behavior. While these
earlier incidents were not actual Anthrax mailings, he may have chosen to
anonymously harass other individuals or entities that he perceived as having
wronged him. He may also have chosen to utilize the mail on those occasions.
•
prefers being by himself more often than not. If he is involved in a personal
relationship it will likely be of a self serving nature.
Pre-Offense
Behavior
•
Following the events of September 11, 2001, this person may have become mission
oriented in his desire to undertake these Anthrax mailings. He may have become
more secretive and exhibited an unusual pattern of activity. Additionally, he
may have displayed a passive disinterest in the events which otherwise
captivated the Nation. He also may have started taking antibiotics unexpectedly.
Post-Offense
Behavior
•
He may have exhibited significant behavioral changes at various critical periods
of time throughout the course of the Anthrax mailings and related media
coverage. These may include the following;
1.
Altered physical appearance.
2.
Pronounced anxiety.
3.
Atypical media interest.
4.
Noticeable mood swings.
5.
More withdrawn.
6.
Unusual level of preoccupation.
7.
Unusual absenteeism.
8.
Altered sleeping and/or eating habits.
These
post-offense behaviors would have been most noticeable during critical times,
including but not limited to: the mailing of the letters (09/18/01 and
10/09/01), the death of first Anthrax victim, media reports of each anthrax
incident, and especially the deaths and illnesses of non-targeted victims.
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