UNITED STATES: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE REINFORCES ITS PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFING SUSPICIOUS LETTERS AND PARCELS IN WAKE OF CURRENT ANTHRAX SCARE

Record ID: 338255

  • Title: UNITED STATES: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE REINFORCES ITS PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFING SUSPICIOUS LETTERS AND PARCELS IN WAKE OF CURRENT ANTHRAX SCARE
  • Date: 15th October 2001
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 15, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SCU/CU: AUTOMATED MAIL PROCESSING (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. SCU: POSTAL HANDLER PROCESSING MAIL 0.19 3. SV'S: POSTAL HANDLERS SORTING MAIL (3 SHOTS) 0.34 4. PAN DOWN/CU: LARGE MAIL CRATE CONTAINING NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE WITH ANTHRAX COVER (2 SHOTS) 0.50 5. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOUGLAS BEM, POSTAL INSPECTOR FOR THE WASHINGTON AREA SAYING: "At this time we are asking our employees and our customers to remember the signs of suspicious letters and parcels that have been in place for some time. The events or recent days have brought those needs to be alert for suspicious type mail back to the forefront and it's entirely appropriate for everyone to know what to look for. We are asking people to be alert for suspicious letters or packaging, but not alarmed." 1.23 6. ZOOM IN: PORTION OF THE STATION DEVOTED TO MAIL BEING SENT TO GOVERNMENT FACILITIES 1.33 7. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOUGLAS BEM SAYING: "Over the past five years we have experienced an average of ten pieces of mail carrying some type of injurious article whether it be a chemical or solid substance or whether it be a bomb or explosive. Put that against the national figure of 208 billion pieces of mail that get worked by the postal service every year the numbers are pretty staggering that you have a very unlikely chance of ever coming into contact with one of these actual devices you actually have a better chance of winning the lottery and getting struck by lightening than ever being a target for one of these pieces." 2.22 8. PUSH IN: EXTERIOR OF WASHINGTON'S BRENTWOOD MAIL FACILITY 2.34 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8K82QK94JTVA8FGZQ020AI96V
  • Story Text: As concerns are rising surrounding anthrax being
    spread by mail, the United States postal service has
    reinforced its procedures of identifying suspicious letters
    and parcels and hopes to insure customers the mail service
    remains safe and reliable.


    Hundreds of people across the United States have been
    tested for anthrax in the past two weeks since a series of
    attacks, most evidently letter-borne, against NBC in New York,
    a newspaper company in Florida and a Microsoft Corp. office in
    Nevada. One man has died from his infection.

    And on Monday police said a letter received by U.S. Senate
    Democratic Leader Tom Daschle's office contained anthrax.

    Experts on bioterrorism say anthrax would be the number
    one weapon of choice for someone wanting to make a biological
    attack. Spread by microscopic spores, it is highly deadly when
    breathed in, can be spread invisibly and usually kills its
    victims by the time serious symptoms show up.

    The latest incidents fanned widespread fears of a
    biochemical attack following the Sept. 11 assaults that badly
    damaged the Pentagon and destroyed the World Trade Center, and
    on Friday perhaps the most cautious places were newspaper and
    television offices.

    Douglas Bem, head postal inspector for the Washington,
    D.C. area said he is asking employees and postal patrons "to
    be alert for suspicious letters or packaging, but not
    alarmed." Bem said that the postal service over the past
    five years averaged
    10 pieces of mail of an "injurious" nature out of 208
    billion pieces of mail handled yearly by the postal service.

    He told Reuters that patrons have a" better chance of
    winning the lottery and getting struck by lightening than
    ever being a target for one of these pieces. "
    Bem highlighted warning signs for suspicious letters.

    They include: Return addresses being a different city than
    the postmark the letter was mailed from, letters containing
    significantly more postage than necessary, letters that are
    heavily taped and do not lie flat on surface as well as
    envelopes purporting to come from large corporations with
    return addresses handwritten instead pre-printed.


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