Fears grow of new anthrax attack

Fears of a new anthrax attack in the United States are growing after it was revealed that spores sent by post last year had been freshly made rather than stolen from a government laboratory.

Tests show the spores were no more than two years old and had been made in a sophisticated laboratory. The results overturn the theory that the anthrax had been stolen from a laboratory in the early Eighties.

Investigators had hoped that whoever sent the deadly letters, that killed five people last autumn, had only a limited supply.

Instead they are facing the grim reality that those responsible are able to make more supplies, raising the possibility of further attacks.