The White House is seen through a metal gate in Washington, U.S., October 6, 2019. /Reuters據美媒報導，美國執法官員當地時間19日表示，本周早些時候，執法部門截獲了一個寄給美國總統川普的包裹，裡面含
有毒物質蓖麻毒素。加拿大皇家騎警（RCMP）於同日發布聲明稱：
初步調查顯示包裹來自加拿大，目前正在協助美國聯邦調查局進行調查。An envelope addressed to the White House and intercepted by U.S. authorities contained a substance identified as ricin, a deadly poison that appeared to have been sent from Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said on Saturday.An RCMP spokesman confirmed "it has received a request for assistance from the FBI in connection with a suspicious letter sent to the White House."The RCMP added "the FBI conducted an analysis on the substance found in the envelope. This report indicated the presence of ricin, a toxic substance." RCMP said it was working with the FBI but declined to discuss further details.據了解，該包裹是在白宮外的檢查點被截獲的，沒有送到川普手上。根據慣例，所有寄給白宮的包裹和信件，都要事先在白宮外的檢查點接受檢查。The envelope was intercepted at a government mail center before it arrived at the White House.
目前，美國聯邦調查局、特勤局和郵政調查局正在針對包裹進行調查，尚未有人被捕，也未發現對公共安全構成威脅。Asked about the reports, the FBI said the agency and "U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service partners are investigating a suspicious letter received at a U.S. government mail facility. At this time, there is no known threat to public safety."The White House and U.S. Secret Service declined to comment.蓖麻毒素是一種從蓖麻籽中提取的劇毒物質，目前還沒有已知的解藥。人在攝入一定量的蓖麻毒素後，會引發噁心、嘔吐和腸胃內部出血等症狀，然後導致肝、脾和腎衰竭，最終因循環系統衰竭而死亡。Ricin is found naturally in castor beans but it takes a deliberate act to convert it into a biological weapon. Ricin can cause death within 36 to 72 hours from exposure to an amount as small as a pinhead. No known antidote exists.2019年，一名來自加利福尼亞州的男子承認試圖購買蓖麻毒素。當時，美國檢察官尼克·漢納（Nick Hanna）對此評論說——
「蓖麻毒素是一種劇毒物質，僅僅幾毫克就能致人死亡……因為它可以被用作大規模殺傷武器，且目前尚無解藥，所以任何企圖獲取這種致命毒物的嘗試都是極其嚴重的事情，將被嚴肅對待。」
"Ricin is an incredibly dangerous biological toxin – just a few tiny grains can kill a human," U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said in a 2019 news release, when a California man pleaded guilty to attempting to buy ricin, according to USA Today."Because it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction and there is no antidote for ricin poisoning, any attempt to acquire this deadly chemical agent is an extremely serious matter that will prompt a vigorous response."There have been numerous incidents involving envelopes mailed with ricin to U.S. officials.In 2018, a Utah man, William Clyde Allen III, was indicted for making ricin-related threats, including mailing a threat against Trump and other federal officials including FBI Director Christopher Wray, with all the letters "containing castor bean material." Allen remains in custody.
In May 2014, a Mississippi man, James Everett Dutschke, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to sending letters with the deadly substance to Obama, as well as a U.S. senator and a state judge.
In July 2014, Texas actor Shannon Richardson was sentenced to 18 years for mailing letters containing ricin to Obama and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
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