A massive manhunt has been launched by the US Justice Department for an escaped prisoner who has boasted he is responsible for a wave of 500 hoax anthrax letters to abortion clinics around the country, reports Patrick Smyth.
He is not believed to be involved in the genuine anthrax attacks on politicians and media organisations, and none of the letters to clinic tested positive.
Clayton Lee Waagner, an anti-abortion militant, on the run since he escaped in February from an Illinois jail, is described by the FBI as heavily armed and "extremely dangerous".
On November 23rd he turned up with a gun in the home of another activist, Mr Neal Horsley, author of a website, Christian Gallery, which lists abortion clinic workers and is seen by many as a hit list.
According to Mr Horsley, Waagner allowed him to tape a lengthy statement in which the fugitive took responsibility for posting the hoax letters.