US biowarfare expert denies anthrax attacks
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The biological warfare expert at the centre of the investigation into fatal anthrax attacks in the United States broke his silence yesterday and denied that he was involved in any way. He said he was appalled that he had been linked to the crime by "outrageous official comments and leaks to the media".
Dr Steven Hatfill, a former federal scientist who worked at the US Army Medical Research Institute at Fort Detrick, Maryland, said his life had been made a "wasteland" by the allegations that had been made against him.
"I am a loyal American and I love my country," Dr Hatfill said in statement he delivered outside his lawyer's office in Alexandria, Virginia. "I had nothing to do with the anthrax letters and it is terribly wrong for anyone to contend or think otherwise."
Law enforcement sources have said Dr Hatfill, 48, is one of about 30 scientists being looked at as part of the inquiry into the sending last year of anthrax-contaminated letters, which killed five people and terrified the American population. Officially, they deny he is a suspect but describe him as a "person of interest".
Dr Hatfill has been repeatedly linked to the mailings, and the FBI has conducted two highly visible searches of his home apartment. Last week it was revealed that sniffer dogs given the scent of last autumn's letters "went crazy" when they searched the property.
It was also reported that a search of the scientist's computer turned up the draft of a novel about a terrorist who carries out a biological attack and then covers his tracks. Dr Hatfill said he understood that officials would be interested in him because of his background in biological warfare.
Fort Detrick was once the headquarters of the US biological warfare programme and a repository for the Ames strain of anthrax that was used in the attacks. In addition, in February 1999, while working for the defence contractor Science Applications International Corp, he commissioned a study into how an anthrax attack might play itself out.
It was disclosed yesterday that he was training at Porton Down, Wiltshire, the Ministry of Defence's germ warfare research centre, a few weeks after the deadly letters started to be distributed.
But Dr Hatfill said that, despite a 10-month inquiry, investigators had failed to uncover any evidence that he was involved.
"[After] one of the most intensive public and private investigations in American history, no one has come up with a shred of evidence that I had anything to do with the anthrax letters," he said.
Many current and former scientists who may have had access to and knowledge about anthrax have submitted to lie detector tests. Dr Hatfill said he had passed such a test.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments