Eleven Gay Bars Targeted in Seattle Ricin Scare

by Damozel | In Seattle, a domestic terrorist/crazy person---let's call it what it is---sent a letter to eleven eight gay bars threatening to attack them with ricin. (Seattle Times)   The police in Seattle are taking the threat seriously.

The perpetrator of this apparent terrorist act/hate crime wrote:

"I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients. ... I expect them to die painfully while in hospital." (Seattle Times) 

 "In hospital"?  What American writes "while in hospital" as opposed to "while in THE hospital"?   Maybe they do in Seattle since it's close to the Canadian border, but I wonder.   I suppose it's possible the perpetrator simply omitted a word or that it was misquoted.

A 12th letter was sent to the alternative weekly The Stranger, according to its Web site. That letter says the paper should be "prepared to announce the deaths of approximately 55 individuals."

The letter lists the bars as: The Elite, Neighbours, The Wildrose Bar, The Cuff, Purr, The Seattle Eagle, R Place, Re-bar, C.C.Attle's, Madison Pub and The Crescent. The letter implies the attacks will take place one Saturday this month.   (Seattle Times) 

According to the article, ricin's a substance found in castor oil that can be deadly if ingested in its pure form.   (Towle Road)

Savage [editorial director of The Stranger] reports: "According to the CDC's website, someone who has ingested 'a significant amount' will develop vomiting and diarrhea within the first 6-12 hours; other symptoms of ricin poisoning include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine. There is no antidote for ricin but ricin exposure is not invariably fatal." (Towle Road)

Some people who work in the threatened establishments expressed concerned.  But the editorial director of The Stranger says he isn't worried.

Stranger editorial director Dan Savage said he didn't take the threat too seriously: "I get a death threat a day with Savage Love," he said, referring to a sex column he writes. (Seattle Times)

Imagine getting a death threat a day.  That's not something anyone should have to get used to.

Anyway, Savage wonders whether the letters emanated from the obvious suspects---i.e., anti-gay bigots.

Savage said the letters didn't contain any religious references, making him wonder whether the author was an embittered gay person. He said that if the threat were designed to ruin business for gay bars, it may backfire. Staffers from The Stranger made a point of visiting gay bars Tuesday night to show their support, he said, and others may be inspired to do the same. (Seattle Times)

Anything's possible. The wording of the letter certainly makes me wonder, as noted above. 

But thank Christ---THERE'S yer religious reference---the police are looking into it.  Whatever else it may be, it's an act of terrorism and I hope they find---and prosecute--- the person responsible.

More at Memeorandum.

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