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White Powder Found in Tacoma, Washington Mail Facility
Aired April 22, 2003 - 10:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to update you on a story we're following out of Tacoma, Washington this morning. A mail facility there in Tacoma now was shut down and evacuated after a white powder was found inside on a table. Four people were exposed to it, and they have since been decontaminated as a precaution. That's because the preliminary tests on that powder have indicated that it may be a biotoxin.
Now again, that was a preliminary test that was done on it. That test may end up proving to be basically a false testing, or a false positive. There is an Army unit coming in from Fort Lewis that will also do some testing there and that will give them a much firmer idea about what that powder actually is. The only word we've gotten so far, indications are that it is not anthrax. It is not anthrax. That's what we're hearing right now. The Associated Press reporting this, and we also had our affiliates up there as well in Tacoma.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, I we'll be able, Leon, to get some more information right now. We have with us a spokesperson for the U.S. Post Office, Jerry McKiernan with us on the phone right now out of the Seattle area.
Hello.
JERRY MCKIERNAN, POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN: Hello.
KAGAN: Can you tell us what you know?
MCKIERNAN: By the way, I'm not in Seattle, I'm in Washington.
KAGAN: OK, we appreciate that update. What can you tell us about what's taking place in Washington?
MCKIERNAN: I'm not sure I have any more than Leon has. We have evacuated the facility. The four employees who were held back have been taken to Tacoma/St. Joe's Hospital, and we are awaiting further tests from the military authorities at Fort Lewis.
KAGAN: So as far as you know, no one has taken ill who was working inside the distribution center?
MCKIERNAN: That's my understanding.
KAGAN: Any tests back on what this powder might be?
MCKIERNAN: Not yet, but I'm told they're imminent. Within about 15 or 20 minutes, we should know a little bit more. KAGAN: All right, well, why don't we stay in touch with you, and as soon as those are in, we will check back.
HARRIS: Is the Army unit there now, do we know?
MCKIERNAN: Yes, I understand they are, but I can't tell you for sure. But we'll run that down for you.
KAGAN: All right Jerry McKiernan, post spokesman. We'll work on getting some more information.
HARRIS: We'll keep an eye on that story, could be the big one of the day.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 22, 2003 - 10:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to update you on a story we're following out of Tacoma, Washington this morning. A mail facility there in Tacoma now was shut down and evacuated after a white powder was found inside on a table. Four people were exposed to it, and they have since been decontaminated as a precaution. That's because the preliminary tests on that powder have indicated that it may be a biotoxin.
Now again, that was a preliminary test that was done on it. That test may end up proving to be basically a false testing, or a false positive. There is an Army unit coming in from Fort Lewis that will also do some testing there and that will give them a much firmer idea about what that powder actually is. The only word we've gotten so far, indications are that it is not anthrax. It is not anthrax. That's what we're hearing right now. The Associated Press reporting this, and we also had our affiliates up there as well in Tacoma.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, I we'll be able, Leon, to get some more information right now. We have with us a spokesperson for the U.S. Post Office, Jerry McKiernan with us on the phone right now out of the Seattle area.
Hello.
JERRY MCKIERNAN, POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN: Hello.
KAGAN: Can you tell us what you know?
MCKIERNAN: By the way, I'm not in Seattle, I'm in Washington.
KAGAN: OK, we appreciate that update. What can you tell us about what's taking place in Washington?
MCKIERNAN: I'm not sure I have any more than Leon has. We have evacuated the facility. The four employees who were held back have been taken to Tacoma/St. Joe's Hospital, and we are awaiting further tests from the military authorities at Fort Lewis.
KAGAN: So as far as you know, no one has taken ill who was working inside the distribution center?
MCKIERNAN: That's my understanding.
KAGAN: Any tests back on what this powder might be?
MCKIERNAN: Not yet, but I'm told they're imminent. Within about 15 or 20 minutes, we should know a little bit more. KAGAN: All right, well, why don't we stay in touch with you, and as soon as those are in, we will check back.
HARRIS: Is the Army unit there now, do we know?
MCKIERNAN: Yes, I understand they are, but I can't tell you for sure. But we'll run that down for you.
KAGAN: All right Jerry McKiernan, post spokesman. We'll work on getting some more information.
HARRIS: We'll keep an eye on that story, could be the big one of the day.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
