No Firm Answers in Suspected Cyanide Poisoning Death
Canadian man's mysterious poisoning has Denver on edge as the DNC approaches.
Aug. 13, 2008 — -- With less than two weeks before the Democratic National Convention comes to Denver, the city is on edge after a Canadian man was found dead of possible cyanide poisoning in his hotel room there.
Police discovered Saleman Abdirahman Dirie's body Monday morning in the Burnsley Hotel, about four blocks from the Colorado state capitol.
Not far from Dirie's body, investigators found a jar containing a white powdery substance consistent with cyanide.
The 29-year-old had been dead several days before he was found, police said.
Dirie immigrated to Ottawa about a year ago and was a member of the city's Somali community, according to the Ottawa Sun newspaper.
The medical examiner's office performed an autopsy Tuesday, and officials are waiting for toxicology results before releasing more details.
The FBI joined the Denver police to investigate the case. After the body was discovered, fire, police and FBI hazardous-material teams locked down the area around the hotel for four hours.
The city has been conducting anti-terror drills to prepare for the more than 40,000 people expected to flood Denver for the DNC, where Barack Obama is scheduled to accept the party's nomination for president.
Police said there is no indication Dirie was involved in terrorist activities, nor do they suspect foul play.
Cyanide is a fast-acting poison that is used in manufacturing, metallurgy and pest extermination. When mixed with certain acids, cyanide can be used as a chemical weapon.
