Woman, 72, charged over Blair powder hoax

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) A 72-year-old woman accused of sending a hoax powder to Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family was today charged under Britain's anti-terrorism laws, police said.

Shirley Freed, from Sussex, southern England, faces five charges under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, a law brought in after the September 11 attacks in the United States.

She is charged with sending letters to Blair and his wife Cherie ''intending to induce...a belief that it is likely to be or contain a noxious substance''.

In a statement, police said the charges related to letters containing sugar, weed killer, other chemicals and newspaper cuttings posted to Blair's Downing Street office in London.

Freed is also charged with sending packages to Blair's son Euan, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt and Ann Clwyd, a lawmaker for Blair's Labour Party.

Freed is due to appear in court in the southern city of Brighton on June 29. A 64-year-old man arrested with her on May 3 was released without charge.

Reuters SY GC2328