UK News 17-10-2001 Did Washing Powder Parcels Trigger Anthrax Panic? who: Health Secretary Alan Milburn what: Says people must "remain calm and go about their normal lives" despite anthrax fears where: House of Commons, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Ministers and health officials urged people not to panic yesterday," reports The Guardian, "as police dealt with anthrax scares after suspect packets were discovered in Liverpool, London, and Scotland." "As yet there is nothing to suggest it is anything but a gift of washing powder posted to a student," says Ian Herbert in The Independent. "But a rogue parcel, leaking a substance believed to be white and powdered, delivered to Liverpool yesterday a taste of the bewilderment, fear and incredulity that accompanies the threat of an anthrax attack." Elsewhere, the Stock Exchange was evacuated when a similarly suspect package was discovered in the post room. "The entire building was sealed off as a security alert when officers from the Anti-Terrorist Squad arrived, along with fire and ambulance services," reports The Star. "Health officials and officers in protective suits removed the package for analysis but police refused to comment on details about the scare." "21 people were given antibiotics after six packages were sent to addresses in Fife," reports The Scotsman. "Police suspect it was the work of republicans opposed to the presence of Prince William at St Andrews University, which was one of those targeted." Furthermore, nine members of staff from The Scotsman newspaper itself went to hospital for checks after exposure to a suspect package. Nevertheless, our emergency services have had a pretty easy time compared to the USA, where The Tines says 2,300 scares have been reported since cases of anthrax - possibly linked to the terror attacks on September 11th - were identified in Florida, Nevada, New York and Washington DC. [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!