Coworker says Ivins didn’t make anthrax letter spores

APR 27, 2010

Physics Today

The Frederick News-Post Online : It is absolutely impossible that Bruce Ivins, accused of mailing anthrax and killing five people in 2001, could have created and cleaned up anthrax spores in the timeline and manner the FBI alleges, Ivins’s former coworker said last Thursday.The National Academy of Sciences brought in Henry Heine, a former microbacteriologist for the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, to explain spore preparation to the panel, which is tasked with investigating the science the FBI used to accuse Ivins, also a former microbacteriologist for USAMRIID.And though Heine discussed only scientific methods and technologies before the panel, he said afterward he firmly believes Ivins did not and could not have grown and prepared the anthrax. Related news picks Anthrax investigation still yielding surprising findings FBI call on NAS to study anthrax case Independent review set on FBI anthrax inquiry Anthrax attacks gave rise to biodefense industry Anthrax investigation should be investigated says, Rep. Rush Holt Questions remain over anthrax case Scientists raise queries over FBI anthrax probe