2001 anthrax attacks facts for kids

The 2001 Anthrax attacks were a series of scary events that happened in the United States in 2001. These attacks started on September 18, 2001, and continued for several weeks. Tiny germs called anthrax were sent through the mail. These anthrax germs, in the form of tiny spores, were put into envelopes. They were then mailed to different news offices and two offices of the U.S. Senate.

22 people became sick from the anthrax. Sadly, five people died. Investigators believed that a scientist named Dr. Bruce Ivins was responsible. He worked for the U.S. government as a researcher. Dr. Ivins died in 2008. He was never found guilty in court.

What Were the 2001 Anthrax Attacks?

The 2001 Anthrax attacks were a type of bioterrorism. This means someone used germs to cause fear and harm. The attacks happened shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This made people in the United States very worried.

How Anthrax Was Spread

The anthrax was sent through the regular mail system. The tiny anthrax spores were placed inside letters. These letters were then mailed to different places.

• Some letters went to major news media companies. These included NBC News and the New York Post.
• Other letters were sent to the offices of two important politicians. These were U.S. Senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy.

When people opened these letters, the tiny anthrax spores could become airborne. If people breathed them in, they could get very sick.

Who Was Affected?

In total, 22 people were infected with anthrax. These people included postal workers, media employees, and staff members from the Senate offices. Five of the people who got sick sadly died from the illness.

The Investigation and Suspect

The FBI and other agencies started a huge investigation. They worked for many years to find out who was behind the attacks.

Dr. Bruce Ivins

After a long investigation, the FBI focused on Dr. Bruce Ivins. He was a scientist who studied dangerous germs. He worked for the U.S. government in a lab that researched ways to protect against germs.

Investigators believed Dr. Ivins had access to the type of anthrax used in the attacks. They gathered a lot of evidence against him. However, Dr. Ivins died in 2008 before he could be charged with any crime. Because he died, he was never proven guilty in a court of law.

Images for kids

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  The Tom Brokaw (NBC) note

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  The second anthrax note

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  Envelope addressed to Senator Thomas Daschle, postmarked October 9, 2001

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  A reward for information totalling $2.5 million was offered by the FBI, U.S. Postal Service and ADVO, Inc.

See also

In Spanish: Ataques con carbunco en 2001 para niños