Several packages with explosive devices and white powder were sent to prominent US politicians and Trump critics. US authorities have warned that the situation may be far from over.
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US authorities on Wednesday intercepted suspected explosive devices sent to prominent Democratic figures who are often targeted by President Donald Trump.
The suspicious parcels containing pipe bombs were sent to former President Barack Obama, ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder, ex-CIA Director John Brennan and billionaire financier George Soros, the FBI said.
The devices targeting Brennan were sent to the New York offices of CNN. The FBI later confirmed three similar parcels were sent to Democratic Representative Maxine Waters.
The packages had a return address of the office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who led the Democratic National Committee, the party's executive body.
The spree of parcel bombs started on Monday with one sent to the New York home ofSoros, a financier of liberal causes who is a bête noire of the far-right.
None of the packages detonated. The FBI said that it is possible other packages were mailed to other locations.
Suspicious packages sent to US politicians, media outlets
US officials have intercepted several suspected pipe bombs set to be delivered to top Democratic leaders across the country, including to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. CNN'S New York office was also evacuated.
Image: Reuters/K. Coombs
Police find suspected bombs across the US
US authorities have intercepted several suspicious parcels addressed to top politicians in Washington DC, New York, and Florida, as well as the CNN's Manhattan offices. Police in New York said all of the examined devices appeared to be crude pipe bombs.
Image: Reuters/K. Coombs
Democrats targeted
Many of the people who were mailed suspicious packages are high-profile Democrats. One alleged explosive device was addressed to 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. It was intercepted at a facility near her home outside New York, which she shares with her husband, former US president Bill Clinton.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/W. McNamee
Obamas in crosshairs
Police also intercepted a suspected pipe bomb addressed to former president Barack Obama at his private residence in Washington DC. No injuries have been reported in any of the cases; some items were investigated but found to be harmless.
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CNN evacuated
American cable network CNN was forced to evacuate from its Manhattan offices after a parcel was found inside the building. The package was addressed to former CIA director John Brennan, who occasionally contributes to the network. Police eventually managed to remove the object safely.
Image: Reuters/K. Coombs
Cuomo slams parcels as 'terrorism'
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that another parcel was mailed to his office, but this was later disputed by the police. The Democratic official described the wave of parcels as "terrorism" and said he would not be surprised if more were found.
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Return to sender
Police in Florida are examining a suspicious package delivered to Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). However, some sources reported the package was addressed to former Attorney General Eric Holder, and had Schultz listed as sender.
Starting with Soros
The wave of suspicious packages started with US-Hungarian billionaire George Soros, who received a device believed to be a pipe bomb two days before similar parcels were discovered elsewhere. Police found the package at his residence in Katonah, outside of New York City.
Image: Getty Images/S. Gallup
A bomb for Biden?
A day after US police tracked down the package directed to Barack Obama, several media outlets reported that a suspicious parcel addressed to his vice president, Joe Biden, was also discovered in the US state of Delaware.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
De Niro feels the heat
New York police discovered a suspicious package addressed to the famous Holywood actor Robert De Niro near the actor's restaurant in Manhattan. The 75-year-old film star has repeatedly slammed US President Donald Trump, calling him a "punk" and an "embarrassment to this country."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Depasquale
Congresswoman Maxine Waters also under threat
FBI said they were investigating two suspicious packages mailed to senior Democratic lawmaker Maxine Waters. The congresswoman was slammed by Trump as "an extraordinarily low IQ person" in July after she called opponents of Trump's migration policy to harass his Cabinet members.
Democratic leaders accused Trump of fueling politically-motivated violence, saying he "condoned physical violence and divided Americans with his words and actions."
In a joint statement, Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi said Trump's support for "the neo-Nazis who killed a young woman in Charlottesville" and "referring to the free press as the enemy of the people" have created a toxic environment in the country.
CNN president Jeff Zucker issued sharp criticism of Trump's verbal assaults on the media.
"There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media," said Zucker. "Words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that."
