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FBI: Initial Tests Link 3 Fiery Letters

PALMER PARK, Md. (AP) -- The FBI says initial forensic tests have linked the three fiery packages sent to federal and Maryland government officials. 

Richard McFeely, special agent in charge of the Baltimore field office, said Tuesday that while investigators believed they were liked before, they have determined that the letters that smoked and popped when opened were manufactured in the same manner. Because the message inside the first two letters got out, McFeely says there were concerns that the third letter found a day later might be a copycat. 

He says fingerprint and fiber analysis is expected soon. 

McFeely says investigators are chasing down more than 100 leads in the case and a separate "red cell" team of investigators is exploring what could have motivated the sender. 

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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