Anthrax 'hoaxer' appears in court

Stockholm firemen hose off after another anthrax scare

A man has appeared before magistrates in Cardiff charged with posting packages containing hoax white powder to people around Wales including the First Minister.

Nicholas Roberts, 50, allegedly sent four packages, including one to Rhodri Morgan, containing flour in a hoax anthrax campaign designed to cause harm.

Mr Roberts sobbed in the court

Three of the letters were intercepted at the main sorting office in Cardiff and the fourth found in a post-box in Powys, Mid Wales, before they reached their targets.

The hearing came as investigators in the US confirmed strains of anthrax sent to three targets in New York, Florida and Washington came from the same source.

And in Sweden, a fiftieth letter suspected of containing anthrax was collected for analysis after a scare at a bank in Stockholm.

'Distress intended'

Jobless bachelor Mr Roberts, of the Cardiff's Riverside area, sobbed in the dock before magistrates remanded him in custody until Thursday, 25 October.

He is facing four charges of sending articles with intent to cause distress under the Malicious Communications Act and one of causing a nuisance to the public.

Mr Morgan has sought to ease bio-terrorism fears

It is alleged travel writer Jan Morris was another target, along with two of Mr Roberts's own friends.

Emergency services were called to a string of unrelated anthrax scares across Wales in the week of the finds.

Five staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea underwent decontamination and medical checks after coming into contact with a package suspected of carrying anthrax.

In Cardiff, a suspect briefcase was blown up in a controlled explosion and a bag left in a chemist caused another scare as nerves spread from the US around the world.

People need to be vigilant but they do not need to be panicking

Chief superintendent Neil Jenkins

Just days before the latest hoax incidents, the First Minister had assured the Welsh Assembly there was no evidence of bio-terrorism threats in Wales.

But police have promised to clamp down on hoaxers, but attempted to calm the nerves.

Chief superintendent Neil Jenkins of South Wales Police said: "People clearly are concerned about things.

"We have had no genuine cases. Everything has proved to be a hoax or a mistake.

"People need to be vigilant but they do not need to be panicking."