PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO

CONTAMINATE US WATER SUPPLIES

1970s RISE (college students)

typhoid bacteria culture (60 Ibs)

target Midwestern cities (ex. Chicago)

turned in by members

1984 Rajneesheeshees (cult)

Salmonella bacteria or raw sewage

targeted a small town in Oregon

contaminants diluted in water supply

-spread on restaurant food

~ 750 people with food poisoning *

1985 threatening letter (free Bernhard Goetz)

plutonium trichloride

New York City water system

"elevated' radioactivity reported?

1986 the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord

(Arkansas survivalists)

potassium cyanide (30 gallons)

major city (not named)

raided by federal agents

*only successful incident of bioterrorism before anthrax in 2001. (California Governor's Office of Emergency Services www.oes.ca.gov)