The US Secret Service intercepted packages sent to the homes of the Clintons in New York and President Barack Obama in Washington that contain “possible explosive devices.” The Clintons and Obama didn’t receive the packages “because of screening procedures.”CNN then reported the NYPD has responded to a suspicious package outside at Time Warner Center in New York, the home of the network. Law enforcement also intercepted a package meant for the White House at Joint Base Bolling in DC, but now reports say “that there was no suspicious package addressed to the White House.”*THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. Please stay with us for more updates…*UPDATE 3:00PMTrump addressed the attempted attacks this afternoon. He said:
“I just want to tell you that in these times, we have to unify,” Trump said at an unrelated opioid bill signing event at the White House. “We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that threats or acts of political violence have no place in the United States of America.””It’s a very bipartisan statement,” he added. “This egregious conduct is abhorrent to everything we hold dear and sacred as Americans.”—The President noted he had just concluded a briefing with the FBI, Department of Justice, Homeland Security Department and Secret Service.”The full weight of our government is being deployed to conduct this investigation,” Trump said. “We will spare no resources or expense in this effort.”The President spoke from TelePrompTer but added this line at the end — not on screen in front of him:”We are extremely angry, upset, unhappy about what we witnessed this morning, and we will get to the bottom of it,” Trump said.
*UPDATE 2:20PM
During a press conference, New York Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said the package sent to CNN “appeared to be a live explosive device” and an envelope with “white powder was also discovered as part of the original packaging.”
CNN continued:
FBI Special Agent in Charge C. Bryan Paarmann says that “so far the devices have been what appear to be pipe bombs.”Potentially explosive devices have been mailed to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, liberal billionaire George Soros, former FBI director John Brennan and Former Attorney General Eric Holder over the past few days.
*UPDATE 1:05PM
All of these updates come from CNN.
The package sent to Wasserman Schultz’s office meant for former Attorney General Eric Holder. A building in San Diego that has the San Diego Union-Tribune and an office for Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) evacuated due to a package.
The NYPD has also sent out more patrols to other major newsrooms in New York City.
The White House released a statement:
*UPDATE 11:45AM
The package at CNN was meant for former CIA Director John Brennan.
Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-CA) have condemned the attempted attacks today. President Donald Trump is receiving “constant updates” from officials.
The Florida office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has evacuated due to a suspicious package. From NBC Miami:
Sunrise Police said they responded to the address of the office of the Democratic rep for Florida’s 23rd congressional district. Footage showed a Broward Sheriff’s Office bomb squad unit and firefighters responding to the building.No other information was immediately known.
*Previous reports…
The Secret Service released this statement:
Late on October 23, 2018, the Secret Service recovered a single package addressed to Former First Lady Hillary Clinton in Westchester County, New York. Early this morning, October 24, 2018, a second package addressed to the residence of Former President Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington, DC.The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such. Both packages were intercepted prior to being delivered to their intended location. The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible.
From CNN:
NYPD is responding to a suspicious device discovered in Time Warner Center, where CNN is based, in New York, according to a law enforcement source.CNN has evacuated its newsroom as a precaution.
An NYPD source told CNN that the package sent to Time Warner had a device “constructed with a pipe and wires” and law enforcement “are treating the device as a real explosive.”
CNN continued:
CNN has learned another suspicious package with a device addressed to the White House was intercepted at Joint Base Bolling in Washington, DC.According to a law enforcement official, the device was similar to one sent to Soros’ home, and similar to ones sent to homes of Clintons and Obamas.The devices appear to be rudimentary but functional.The White House-addressed device also contained projectiles.
Another law enforcement source said “There is a strong suspicion” the two packages intercepted last night and this morning are connected to the package targeting George Soros.
George Soros received his package on Tuesday and law enforcement said they believe it “was left there by someone and was not delivered by the Postal Service.” They explained that the package contained a device “constructed from a length of pipe about six inches long filled with explosive powder, and it was ‘proactively detonated’ by bomb squad technicians.”
However, John Roberts from Fox News tweeted out that Secret Service has denied the reports that no suspicious packages were addressed to the White House.
The White House lashed out at the person or persons who sent these packages:
“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures. 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.”
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