Hazmat Teams Find Rat Poisoning at Metro Stations
posted 9:04 am Mon July 30, 2007 - WASHINGTON
There was no indication it was an attack aimed at people, said Alan Etter, District of Columbia fire and EMS spokesman. No injuries were reported.
However, members of the FBI's joint terrorism task force joined the investigation. "They are observing it; they are gathering information," Etter said.
Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith says the incident was likely a mistake caused by a pest control contractor that lead to the death of the birds.
The Greenbelt, Naylor Road, Branch Avenue, and the Anacostia stations on the Green Line and the Takoma Park and Rhode Island stations on the Red Line in the city were closed because of the hazmat scare.
Twenty dead birds were found outside the Greenbelt station, 15 at the Branch Avenue station and a few at other stations, Etter said.
Investigators determined the substance at the Greenbelt station was d-Con rat poison, Etter said. "We suspect very strongly that it's the same chemical at the other stations," he said.
Investigators were looking for a person in a black pickup truck who witnesses saw spraying the material, he said."We don't know how many dead birds are going to be connected to this," he said. "The message to the public is if you see a dead bird, don't touch it, and contact the authorities." All stations have since reopened.
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