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CNN Sunday Morning

Tainted Letter to `New York Post' was Postmarked From Trenton

Aired October 21, 2001 - 09:14   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: We go to Trenton, New Jersey, where the FBI believes at least three anthrax-tainted letters were mailed.

CNN's Brian Palmer is in Trenton with the latest there -- Brian.

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Martin.

We do have some late-breaking information. A letter postmarked in Trenton, a letter sent to "The New York Post" has tested positive for anthrax. This has been verified by the New York City Police Department, as well as the FBI in New York.

Now, the FBI here on the ground tells us that that letter likely has come from the Trenton area. But they're being very, very cautious, Martin. They're saying they're investigating that, but they can't really give us any more information about that letter. But the FBI in New York telling us that a letter send to "The New York Post" has tested positive for anthrax, postmarked from Trenton September 18.

The FBI is telling us today that their investigations continue. They're still canvassing the route that was serviced by a letter carrier who was infected with cutaneous anthrax, which is the least serious form of the illness. Again, it's the least serious; the most serious being inhalation anthrax.

They're interviewing residents of that neighborhood, asking them a series of questions. In very brief interviews, asking them if they've seen suspicious activity in the neighborhood, suspicious packages, if they've seen unfamiliar people driving cars with out-of- state license plates.

The FBI also telling us that they have removed from the area between one and three post boxes. They're not saying whether these are collection boxes or whatever, but we can call them mailboxes. Again, these have not tested positive for anthrax. They have not -- they're removing them on a sort of random level, bringing them back for testing -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: All right, Brian Palmer there in New Jersey. Thank you very much.

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