In 2001, the United States suffered a major terrorist attack on 9/11. A week later, a new attack broke out, the anthrax attacks. The attacks took place over several weeks. Anthrax is a type of bacteria that produces spores that can kill infected people very quickly. Its diagnosis is not always easy due to its non-specific symptoms. In this case it was used as a biological weapon. The attacks were not known for some time until several cases occurred. Many people and organizations would end up working on the investigation into the anthrax attack, dubbed Amerithrax by the FBI. During the investigation, the FBI had to work with the scientific community to try to solve the case. The FBI's problem was that these scientists could also have been responsible for the attacks they were trying to solve. These 2001 anthrax attacks would end up being one of the most expensive and difficult cases for the FBI to date (Shachtman 2011). The FBI closed the Amerithrax case eight years after the attacks. The 2001 anthrax attacks were one of the worst biological weapon attacks against the United States in history. The attacks were carried out by mail. The anthrax was placed in envelopes with a letter and mailed from various locations to different people and organizations. The anthrax-filled letters ended up killing 5 people, sickening 17, and exposing up to 30,000 people to anthrax. During mail processing, anthrax spores from the letters escaped and entered mailroom equipment, exposing postal workers. If a person was exposed to enough anthrax and developed symptoms, they usually died within a few days. During the attacks, postal workers were told that anthrax would appear as a white powder in the middle of paper......iew, 24(1), 131-146.Shachtman, N. (2011, March 24). Anthrax Redux: Did the Feds Catch the Wrong Guy?. Wired.com. Retrieved December 16, 2013 from http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/03/ff_anthrax_fbi/Shane, S. (February 19, 2010). FBI concludes investigation into deadly anthrax mailings. The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/us/20anthrax.html?pagewanted=allShane, S. (2011, March 23). Anthrax letters sent by Bruce Ivins, psychiatrists agree. The New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/us/24anthrax.html?_r=1&Wilman, D. (March 22, 2011). Reporting Military Flaws in 2001 Anthrax Mailings. Los Angeles Times. Accessed December 16, 2013, from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/22/nation/la-na-anthrax-ivins-20110323/2history/ case-famous/anthrax-amerithrax