The Associated Press
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to an arrest in the investigation of a package containing a vial of the poison ricin that was left at a postal facility here last fall.
The writer of a letter left with the package claimed to have a fleet of tanker trucks and the ability to make large quantities of the poison, The Greenville News was told by the FBI on Wednesday.
The letter was signed “Fallen Angel,” the FBI said. Federal officials previously refused to release details about the letter left with the package Oct. 15 at the mail facility serving Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
The letter threatened the use of “large quantities” of the poison unless federal officials repealed new trucking regulations that took effect Jan. 4, requiring more rest for truckers, the FBI said.
The rules went into effect Sunday.
The package was labeled “CAUTION RICIN poison” and warned “Do not open without proper protection,” an FBI statement said.
The incident triggered a terrorism investigation, initially handled by the state’s Joint Terrorism Task Force staffed by the FBI and State Law Enforcement Division.
The postal center was closed and the facility was tested by state and federal health officials.
No suspects have been arrested and no illnesses have been reported.
The FBI, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Department of Transportation are offering the reward and have set up a toll-free number, 866-839-6241, for information about the incident.
Police were not called for almost 11 hours after the ricin was discovered at the postal distribution center. It took almost another week before federal officials tested the vial and the information was made public.