FREDERICK -- A second search for evidence in the deadly anthrax attacks brought federal authorities today to a forest northwest of Frederick.
At least three roadblocks were set up around snow-covered forest land owned by the city of Frederick as part of its watershed. Orange barrels and signs marked off sections of Hamburg and Fishing Creek roads.
A woman in a vehicle at one roadblock identified herself as an FBI agent, but referred all questions to the agency's public relations office.
FBI spokeswoman Debra Weierman in Washington said the search was "just a continuation of our investigation on the anthrax case." She declined to provide anymore information.
In December, dozens of federal agents closed roads, put up tents and combed small ponds in the Catoctin Mountains during a weeklong search for evidence of the anthrax mailings that killed five people and infected 18 others in the fall of 2001.
Frederick is the former home of Dr. Steven Hatfill, an ex-Army biological weapons researcher the government has labeled a "person of interest" in the anthrax case. Hatfill has denied any involvement in the October 2001 attacks.
The area closed today was about 2 miles long and a mile wide, located in the hills above Fishing Creek Reservoir, a source of city drinking water. The land contains eight ponds. It is about two miles south of the area previously searched and about four miles northwest of the city.
The FBI issued a statement last week confirming that the latest search was part of the anthrax investigation.
"The FBI is conducting forensic searches on public land located within the city of Frederick, Maryland. These searches are related to the FBI's investigation of the origin of the anthrax-laced letters mailed in September and October 2001," the statement said.
The roads through the mountain area are winding and often shrink to a single lane. A few homes are scattered through the area.
One of the roadblocks was set up Sunday, said Gregory Maddox, a carpenter who lives nearby in a log house with his wife and two children. He said FBI officials told him the roadblocks will be up for about a week.
"I kind of support what they're doing," Maddox said. "I believe whatever it is they're doing benefits the entire United States, therefore, I don't ask them a lot of dumb questions."
At least three roadblocks were set up around snow-covered forest land owned by the city of Frederick as part of its watershed. Orange barrels and signs marked off sections of Hamburg and Fishing Creek roads.
A woman in a vehicle at one roadblock identified herself as an FBI agent, but referred all questions to the agency's public relations office.
FBI spokeswoman Debra Weierman in Washington said the search was "just a continuation of our investigation on the anthrax case." She declined to provide anymore information.
In December, dozens of federal agents closed roads, put up tents and combed small ponds in the Catoctin Mountains during a weeklong search for evidence of the anthrax mailings that killed five people and infected 18 others in the fall of 2001.
Frederick is the former home of Dr. Steven Hatfill, an ex-Army biological weapons researcher the government has labeled a "person of interest" in the anthrax case. Hatfill has denied any involvement in the October 2001 attacks.
The area closed today was about 2 miles long and a mile wide, located in the hills above Fishing Creek Reservoir, a source of city drinking water. The land contains eight ponds. It is about two miles south of the area previously searched and about four miles northwest of the city.
The FBI issued a statement last week confirming that the latest search was part of the anthrax investigation.
"The FBI is conducting forensic searches on public land located within the city of Frederick, Maryland. These searches are related to the FBI's investigation of the origin of the anthrax-laced letters mailed in September and October 2001," the statement said.
The roads through the mountain area are winding and often shrink to a single lane. A few homes are scattered through the area.
One of the roadblocks was set up Sunday, said Gregory Maddox, a carpenter who lives nearby in a log house with his wife and two children. He said FBI officials told him the roadblocks will be up for about a week.
"I kind of support what they're doing," Maddox said. "I believe whatever it is they're doing benefits the entire United States, therefore, I don't ask them a lot of dumb questions."