NEW YORK, Oct 13: The FBI failed to test the suspicious powder sent to an NBC employee in New York for two weeks and it was a private doctor who raised the alarm over the new case of anthrax, the New York Times reported Saturday.

The report said the FBI was notified about the powder on September 25, picked it up a day later but did not do any laboratory tests on the powder or take skin samples from the NBC employee who handled the package.

The report said it was only after the NBC staffer — identified as 38-year-old Erin O’ Connor — developed a sore on her chest, visited several doctors and was diagnosed with skin anthrax that the powder was tested.

The powder was eventually found to be negative for anthrax, although the report said the FBI did not have a large quantity of the powder to test.

The paper quoted New York FBI chief Barry Mawn as saying it was “unfortunate” the tests were not conducted immediately. Mawn said the FBI had investigated dozens of suspicious substances since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The report said New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was “three feet off the ground” in anger when informed about the FBI’s delay, and it quoted sources involved in the probe as saying cooperation between the FBI and the police had not been good.

The Times said the letter sent to NBC made threats against Israel, and that a second suspicious package of white powder received Friday by New York Times reporter Judith Miller also contained a threatening letter.

Miller, a veteran Middle East correspondent who has written a book on germ warfare, said the letter “contained future threats against the United States,” mentioning the Sears Tower in Chicago and President George W. Bush.

The Times’ newsroom was evacuated for several hours Friday while health officials checked the area for anthrax and other biological agents.

The FBI has said both the letters to NBC and the Times had the same postmark in St Petersburg, Florida.—AFP