WEB DESK
The United States Secret Service on Wednesday intercepted and proactively detonated two “suspicious packages” addressed to former President Barack Obama and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
US news network CNN also announced Wednesday that it had evacuated its New York bureau over a suspicious package.
New York police said it has sent officers to the Time Warner Center, where the CNN bureau is located, to investigate reports of a suspicious package.
The secret service said it had intercepted two “suspicious packages” addressed to Obama and Clinton on Wednesday.
Breaking: photo of package containing live explosive device sent to CNN pic.twitter.com/8YucUz3aMO
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 24, 2018
Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, Mr. Soros and CNN have all figured prominently in conservative political attacks — many of which
have been led by President Trump. He has often referred to major news organizations as “the enemy of the people,” and has had a particular animus for CNN.
The device sent to CNN was in a manila envelope addressed to Mr. Brennan, a harsh critic of Mr. Trump. The president revoked Mr. Brennan’s security clearance in what was seen as an act of retribution.
According to new York Times, the envelope’s return address bore the name of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida congresswoman and a former Democratic National Committee chairwoman, according to a person who saw a photograph of the envelope. The device sent to Mr. Soros was in a similar envelope also with a printed return address label with her name.
A fifth device apparently intended for the man who served as Mr. Obama’s attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., was misaddressed and because Ms. Wasserman Schultz’s name was on the return address, it was ultimately delivered to her district office in Florida, a law enforcement official said.
Earlier this week, a suspicious package targeting billionaire investor and major Democratic donor George Soros was discovered and rendered safe. Authorities are investigating whether there are any connections between the three packages, CNN reported.
On Wednesday afternoon, President Trump addressed the attempted bombings, telling reporters: “Acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America.”
Earlier A senior White House officials told NBC News that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation.
The White House said it condemned the “attempted violent attacks.”
“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
“These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards,” she said.