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'Ricin' found in letter to US Senator Roger Wicker 'Ricin' found in letter to US Senator Roger Wicker
(35 minutes later)
A letter containing the lethal toxin ricin or another poisonous substance has been posted to a US senator, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said.A letter containing the lethal toxin ricin or another poisonous substance has been posted to a US senator, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said.
The letter was intended for Roger Wicker, a Republican senator representing Mississippi, Mr Reid told the Associated Press news agency.The letter was intended for Roger Wicker, a Republican senator representing Mississippi, Mr Reid told the Associated Press news agency.
It was intercepted at a centre handling post for the Capitol in Washington DC, US media report.It was intercepted at a centre handling post for the Capitol in Washington DC, US media report.
Ricin, extracted from castor beans, is 1,000 times more toxic than cyanide.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.It can be fatal when inhaled, swallowed or injected, although it is possible to recover from exposure.
The letter was detected during a routine inspection of mail and did not reach the US Capitol or Senator Wicker's office, a Senate leadership aide was quoted as saying.The letter was detected during a routine inspection of mail and did not reach the US Capitol or Senator Wicker's office, a Senate leadership aide was quoted as saying.
Senators were informed of the letter at a closed-door briefing by FBI Director Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about the Boston Marathon bombings, the aide added.Senators were informed of the letter at a closed-door briefing by FBI Director Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about the Boston Marathon bombings, the aide added.
The letter has since been sent to a laboratory for further analysis.The letter has since been sent to a laboratory for further analysis.
It is not clear whether there is a connection between the letter and the bomb attacks.It is not clear whether there is a connection between the letter and the bomb attacks.
It is also not clear why the letter was sent to Senator Wicker.It is also not clear why the letter was sent to Senator Wicker.
The Senate's chief security office told Reuters: "The exterior marking on the envelope in this case was not outwardly suspicious, but it was postmarked from Memphis, Tennessee."
All mail sent to members of Congress has been screened off-site since letters laced with anthrax were sent to Capitol Hill in 2001.All mail sent to members of Congress has been screened off-site since letters laced with anthrax were sent to Capitol Hill in 2001.
In 2004, three Senate office buildings were shut after tests found ricin in letters that had been sent to the Senate majority leader's office.In 2004, three Senate office buildings were shut after tests found ricin in letters that had been sent to the Senate majority leader's office.
Ricin was the poison used for the infamous murder of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in September 1978.Ricin was the poison used for the infamous murder of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in September 1978.
He was waiting at a bus stop near Waterloo Bridge, London, when a stranger jabbed him in the leg with an umbrella.He was waiting at a bus stop near Waterloo Bridge, London, when a stranger jabbed him in the leg with an umbrella.
The umbrella injected a tiny ricin-filled pellet into Mr Markov's leg and he died three days later in hospital.The umbrella injected a tiny ricin-filled pellet into Mr Markov's leg and he died three days later in hospital.