Entertainment

The Anthrax Attacks: Who Was the Culprit behind the 2001 Anthrax Attacks?

Published

7 months ago

September 8, 2022

The Anthrax Attacks: Who Was the Culprit behind the 2001 Anthrax Attacks?

A few days before the 21st anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Netflix released a new documentary feature about the aftermath, namely the terrifying 2001 anthrax attacks that occurred just one week after 9/11. The Anthrax Attacks is part of a Netflix collaboration with the BBC and is now streaming on the service.

The 2001 anthrax attacks, sometimes dubbed “Amerithrax,” was an incident where several news media outlets and Democratic senators received letters containing deadly anthrax spores. Five people died in total, and at least 17 were infected, potentially more.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the case is that no one was ever brought to justice, although the FBI did name one man as the sole culprit. He died before he could go to trial, and the case has since been closed.

The Anthrax Attacks: Who was the culprit behind the 2001 anthrax attacks?

There were three primary culprits for the 2001 anthrax attacks: Al-Qaeda, Steven Hatfill, and Bruce Edwards Ivins. Because the attacks happened so soon after 9/11 and the letters said things like “death to America” and “death to Islam,” the American government believed the usage of anthrax spores in the post was another terrorist attack, this time biological, potentially linked to the 9/11 plane hijackings.

However, the FBI quickly deduced that the spores used were from the Ames strain, an anthrax strain created on American soil and present in at least 15 different labs. Bruce Ivins was the leading anthrax investigator at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and became an early suspect.

The FBI initially cleared Ivins of suspicion and even considered him an asset in their investigation as he assisted them by providing information on other researchers who had access to the strain. The FBI set their sights on former army researcher Steven Hatfill, who had previously been fired for violating regulations and later lost a second job in addition to his security clearance.

Despite not having concrete evidence, the FBI agents on the case focused all their efforts on Hatfill, to the point Hatfill filed a lawsuit accusing the Justice Department of leaking information to the press in violation of the Privacy Act. He received $5.8 million as part of a settlement.

Ultimately, the search circled back to Ivins. In late 2006, science progressed enough that the FBI could use a combination of genome and DNA sequencing to create a DNA fingerprint that matched one found on a specific flask of anthrax spores labeled RMR-1029, a flask Ivins made as part of his experiments.

Further digging also showed that Ivins had been increasing his time in the “hot suites” (labs designed to be cut off from the outside world so germs cannot escape) in the days before the letters arrived. These findings, on top of allegations that Ivins had various mental illnesses, led to him becoming the primary suspect.

Since Ivins was a co-inventor on two patents for anthrax vaccine technology, his motivations were believed to be linked to wanting to get his vaccine approved. The resulting attacks did indeed help his achievements garner recognition since the media frenzy and public paranoia led to an increase in vaccine interest. He and two colleagues were awarded the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service by the USAMRIID thanks to their assistance in solving technical problems related to the manufacturing of the anthrax vaccine.

The Anthrax Attacks: Where is Bruce Ivins now?

Bruce Ivins died on July 29, 2008. He appeared to commit suicide by overdosing on acetaminophen (Tylenol) after learning that the FBI was going to file criminal charges against him for his alleged connection to the anthrax attacks.

But the FBI believed he was their man. In The Anthrax Attacks documentary, you’ll hear conflicting opinions on whether Ivins was the guilty party or not. The FBI closed the case and destroyed all the evidence, so it cannot be reopened and re-investigated. In short, Bruce Ivins is believed to be the main culprit behind the attacks, but it was never proven in a court of law.

The Anthrax Attacks is now streaming on Netflix.

Related Topics:Netflix The Anthrax Attacks

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List Of Canceled Netflix Original Series In 2023

List of all the shows Netflix has canceled in 2023.

Published

2 months ago

January 10, 2023

Staff Writer

2023 has kicked off with a couple of big cancelations, which signals a potentially rough year coming up, which many other players throughout Hollywood will share. Here’s a look at the 2023 cancelations!

1899

The big-budget series from the creators of DARK had big expectations and big shoes to fill.

The mystery sci-fi show was one of Netflix’s most ambitious shows in years, using state-of-the-art technology and featuring an impressive ensemble cast.

Why was 1899 canceled?

Data provided to What’s on Netflix from European SVOD analytics company Digital i suggests that the completion rate was ultimately too low and likely wasn’t growing substantially. Their data suggests only around a third of people who started the show went onto finish the title.

Inside Job

The animated series Inside Job had been initially given a season 2 renewal order back in June 2022. Still, in January 2023, the creator confirmed rumors that Netflix had reversed the decision to renew.

In a statement on Twitter, the show’s creator Shion Takeuchi said:

I’m heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel season 2 of Inside Job. Over the years, these characters have become real people to me, and I am devastated not to be able to watch them grow up. Reagan and Brett deserved to get their ending and finally find happiness. And I would have loved to been able to share what was in store with you all.

He added, “To everyone who watched, thank you for coming along on the ride. Even though I’m sad, it helps to know that there’s people out there who cared just as much about these characters as me.”

Entertainment

Netflix Tudum 2022: Can You Watch Tudum Online?

Published

6 months ago

September 23, 2022

Staff Writer

Netflix Tudum 2022: Can You Watch Tudum Online?

This weekend is going to be quite the eventful one for Netflix subscribers! Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Tudum officially returns this Saturday with a day that promises to bring with it a lot of exciting new reveals about Netflix’s biggest shows and movies!

The 24-hour event will bring fans the scoop on over 120 fan-favorite shows and movies including Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, Shadow and Bone, Wednesday, Manifest, You, Outer Banks, The Witcher, Heartstopper and more!

From first looks at upcoming titles, casting news, renewals and release date confirmations, there’s no telling what could be coming our way this weekend. The only thing that is certain? Fans won’t want to miss the event, but how exactly can you follow along from home?

Where to watch Tudum 2022

If you’re hoping to be able to watch this year’s Tudum event online, you’re in luck! While some events such as San Diego Comic-Con and D23 take place in-person with only select presentations from the event available to stream online, Tudum takes place exclusively online as a virtual event.

This Saturday, fans across the globe will be able to head to Netflix’s official YouTube account to watch the event online with the event set to be made available in 29 languages worldwide!

Do you have to pay for Tudum?

If you’re hoping to watch Tudum this weekend, don’t worry about having to break out your wallet or credit cards to pay for the event. The virtual event is free to Netflix fans worldwide as there is no cost to stream the event which can be viewed free of cost on the Netflix YouTube channel!

Entertainment

Netflix Movie Lou Cast: Who Stars in the Netflix Thriller?

Published

6 months ago

September 23, 2022

Staff Writer

Netflix Movie Lou Cast: Who Stars in the Netflix Thriller?

Allison Janney and Jurnee Smollett are the main attraction of the Netflix movie Lou as the two leading ladies. Janney plays a John Wick-esque character (complete with a beloved dog, but don’t worry, Jax makes it out alive!) while Smollett plays her neighbor, Hannah.

Lou is a hardened recluse living on the fringes of their secluded island, while Hannah is a single mother struggling to make ends meet to take care of her daughter, Vee.

A horrible storm hits the island, and someone kidnaps Hannah’s daughter in the midst of it, forcing her to turn to Lou for help. While searching for Vee, the two women are forced to confront some of the dark secrets from their past.

Even though Smollett and Janney are the stars, Lou has a great cast of actors that also includes Logan Marshall-Green and Greyston Holt (remember him as one of the hot werewolves from Bitten?).

Netflix movie Lou cast list

For those unfamiliar with Allison Janney, the powerhouse actress is a Hollywood staple. Throughout her many decades in the business, Janney has won countless accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She has also secured two Tony nominations.

Janney first rose to prominence playing C.J. Cregg on The West Wing. More recently, she starred as Bonnie Plunkett for nine seasons in the CBS sitcom Mom. Janney won her Oscar for I, Tonya, and has also appeared in projects like Masters of Sex, The Help, Juno, and many others. Next, she’ll star in the comedy miniseries Mrs. American Pie, the comedy film The People We Hate at the Wedding, and the sci-fi drama True Love.

Jurnee Smollett has been acting since she was a kid, with recurring roles in shows like Full House and On Our Own. But most people probably know her as Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights. The last few years have really helped cement Smollet’s status as a superstar. She played Dinah Lance/Black Canary in Birds of Prey and is reportedly going to reprise her role in a spinoff standalone movie at HBO Max.

Smollett also delivered an incredible performance in the short-lived but acclaimed HBO series Lovecraft Country and she recently starred opposite Miles Teller and Chris Hemsworth in the Netflix thriller Spiderhead. Next, she’ll star in the courtroom drama film The Burial with Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones.

Completing the cast trifecta is Logan Marshall-Green, who plays the film’s primary antagonist, Philip. You might recall Marshall-Green playing Trey Atwood in The O.C. He also recently completed a stint on the ABC series Big Sky.

Here’s the complete cast list for the Netflix movie: