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Washington-area Scientist's Residence Searched

Aired August 01, 2002 - 14:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First our lead story. We take to you an apartment complex just outside the nation's capitol. That's home to a scientist who once had access to the strain of anthrax used in last fall's deadly mailings.
For the very latest, let's bring in our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, that biologist's name is Dr. Steven Hatfill, and this is the second time that we know of that his residence has been searched by FBI agents. FBI agents are right now going through trash bins outside of his complex, going through his residence. They have blocked off the entryway to his residence. This time the search is being conducted with a search warrant.

The last time his residence was searched, it was consensual. And sources told us then there was absolutely no evidence of anything that would implicate Dr. Hatfill, but there is something that has come up between now and then which has brought FBI agents back to the scene. You see it here right now, courtesy of our affiliate WTTG. The -- that's the trash bin right outside of Hatfill's residence. This doctor, this isn't the first time that we have heard about him. We have chosen here at CNN not to say his name because he had previously been described to us as a person of interest. That has been elevated. Some sources now calling him a potential suspect. He has also been the subject of a lot of Internet chatter, Web sites, of fellow scientists, sort of tossing around names of people that they thought could be potential suspects. And the reason that his name came up, one of the reasons, is that back in 1999, he commissioned a study that included the fake scenario of an anthrax laced envelope being opened in an office. That seemed peculiar to some. He also did -- while he did not work directly with anthrax, he had access to the labs at Fort Detrick, which contained the Ames strain, which is the strain that investigators identified that was sent through those letters last fall which killed five people. Again, not -- no official word from the FBI. Dr. Steven Hatfill is not a an official suspect. He is a potential suspect. We are also told that there are other searches that will be conducted by the FBI in the Washington area today. There have been searches of other residences as well, just to put this in some perspective, but he -- Dr. Steven Hatfill has moved up, at least in terms of priority for the FBI, he is being described as a potential suspect, which seems to be a very significant break in this investigation, which has gone on for months and has been very frustrating to say the least -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: No doubt. Kelli Arena, thank you so much. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com