The article in a local Vegas TV website starts with...
Police say there is no indication of any link to terrorist activity involving the discovery of the deadly poison ricin that was found in a hotel room near the Las Vegas Strip.
...and ends with...
Ricin has been used in attacks overseas before, but Metro stresses this does not appear to be an act of terror.
He (I assume it's a male) may have been planning a murder spree, or perhaps he was a terrorist, but it's clear he was up to no good.
Police say they had been to the man's room on February 26, 2008 after apartment management called them to remove some firearms. The managers were going forward with eviction proceedings when they found guns and an anarchist-type textbook.
When police arrived, they noted the ricin section of the textbook was highlighted.
Apparently the plan was foiled when the suspect inhaled his own ricin. He was admitted into a hospital with respiratory problems and fell into a coma. He was staying in an extended stay hotel, and perhaps making the stuff in his room.
The ricin was turned in by a relative.
According to the accompanying blog, no information about the suspect has been released.
Metro has not released the man’s name or nationality because he remains in the hospital. Apparently it violates HIPPA rules.
We’ll release it as soon as we get it.
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act, under the Privacy Rule,
This is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient’s medical record or payment history.
So even if there is a WMD involved, in a heavily trafficked metro area, we have to respect the patient's medical privacy? Sounds a bit off. Terrorism, even individual terrorism, is bad for business, and disrupting commerce is part of the terrorist's MO.
I suspect this story will just fade away.
