Chemical-weapon threat in Mass.

Federal officials are monitoring a chemical-weapon bomb threat involving hostages in Ware, Mass., according to an e-mail obtained by POLITICO.

> “At 06:40 am today, the Ware Police Department receive a call on an untraceable line from a person claiming to have placed bombs at 228 to234 West Street which are set to detonate at 02:00 pm. The person described himself a a federally wanted felon, and claimed to have 4 hostages and was demanding money,” the internal Environmental Protection Agency email said. “The bombs were described a fertilizer bombs, and additional information provided indicate the possible presence of VX and or Tabun.”


VX and Tabun are nerve agents. Subsequent updates indicated that there were no hostages, that the timing of the threatened detonation was actually 2:30 p.m., and that authorities were searching for multiple bombs.

In addition to local law enforcement, hazardous material disposal and environmental protection officials, the FBI and National Guard are responding to the threat, according to the email. Buildings were being searched by the FBI and Massachusetts police.

On its website Sunday afternoon, the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette had an article indicating that “a hazardous materials incident” was under way, but did not specify the nature of the incident. The report said “people are being asked to avoid the area.”

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article referred to VCX gas. It is VX.

CORRECTION: Corrected by: Vivyan Tran @ 10/21/2012 01:44 PM CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article referred to VCX gas. It is VX.

This article tagged under: Threats

Chemical Weapons