WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ricin, a deadly poison, was discovered in a hotel room in Las Vegas but officials don't believe the incident is terrorism-related, media reported on Friday.
Authorities were called to an Extended Stay America Hotelon Thursday after a suspicious substance was found in one ofthe rooms, the reports said.
Preliminary tests indicated the substance was ricin, whichcan be deadly in even in small quantities. Results from furthertests were expected later on Friday.
Homeland Security officials and the FBI are investigatingalong with the Las Vegas police but officials do not believe itis related to terrorism, CNN reported.
Three police officers, three hotel employees and anotherperson were taken to the hospital for testing and observation.All appeared to be in good condition, authorities said.
Ricin is made from castor beans and in proper doses can beused for cancer treatments. It attacks cells, preventing themfrom making necessary proteins, and an amount the size of agrain of salt can be deadly.
In 2003 an envelope containing ricin was sent to the WhiteHouse but was intercepted by the Secret Service. Ricin also wasfound in a similar envelope at a South Carolina postalfacility.
It also was detected in a Senate mailroom in 2004.
In 1978 dissident Bulgarian writer Georgi Markov was killedafter a passer-by in London jabbed him with an umbrella thatinjected a tiny ricin-filled pellet into him.
