NEW YORK — Former Vice President Joe Biden and actor Robert De Niro are the latest public figures to be sent suspicious packages like those sent to Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama and others.
A total of nine suspicious packages have been found as of Thursday in what has become a domestic terrorism investigation, law enforcement sources told ABC News. At least five contained devices resembling pipe bombs, intended to maim or kill.
The packages were addressed to:
- Two addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden in New Castle, Delaware.
- Actor Robert Di Niro at his New York City film and television company.
- Hillary Clinton's home in Chappaqua, New York.
- The house of former President Barack Obama in Washington D.C.
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder. That package, which was one of the ones with Wasserman Schultz's return address, was sent back to her Florida office, according to the Associated Press.
- Two addressed to Democratic California congresswoman Maxine Waters in Washington D.C. and her office Los Angeles.
- CNN's New York City newsroom, addressed to former CIA director John Brennan and delivered by a courier.
- The home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, who has donated to Democratic campaigns, in Katonah, New York.
Minute-by-Minute Updates:
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12:00 p.m.
Channel 2's Justin Gray in the D.C. Bureau says the Cannon House, which serves as the office building for the U.S. House of Representatives, has been evacuated after an alarm went off. It is unclear why.
Police gave the 'all clear' but still haven't let staffers back inside. Several roads around the building are closed.
Evacuated House staffers outside Cannon pic.twitter.com/oi8blEeW8e
— Justin Gray (@JustinGrayWSB) October 25, 2018
Cannon House Office Building being evacuated now. We don’t know why pic.twitter.com/JJmnar9NlS
— Justin Gray (@JustinGrayWSB) October 25, 2018
10:00 a.m.
President Trump is blaming the media for widespread divide in the county in his morning tweets:
“A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News,” Trump said in a morning Tweet. “It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”
New photos show the suspected explosive devices sent to locations in New York and Washington D.C.
NEW: Photos show suspected explosive devices sent to locations in New York and Washington. D.C. The devices were all similarly constructed, law enforcement sources tell @ABC.
— ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2018
The devices and components are being studied at the FBI lab in Quantico, VA. https://t.co/09QjC03iAM pic.twitter.com/vThnIbYzYy
A device intended for former Attorney General Eric Holder is among those intercepted in recent days.
That's according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press to discuss an ongoing investigation.
One of the people says the device was sent to the wrong address. It was then sent back to what was listed as the return address, an office of Florida Rep. Deborah Wasserman Schultz.
"I'm deeply disturbed by the way my name was used," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement after officials said a misspelling of her name was used as the return address on at least five packages containing crude explosive devices.
JUST IN: Statement from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: "We will not be intimidated by this attempted act of violence. This appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously prosecuted, and I am deeply disturbed by the way my name was used." https://t.co/09QjC03iAM pic.twitter.com/8VCKellVl7
— ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2018
The FBI says five packages containing explosives targeting Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, CNN and others are being analyzed at the bureau's lab in Virginia.
The agency says each package had a return address of "DEBBIE WASSERMAN SHULTZ," a misspelling of the Florida congresswoman's name.
The FBI confirmed all of the packages had printed address labels and six stamps.
Teh FBI said in a statement Wednesday that it's possible additional packages were mailed to other locations and advises the public to remain vigilant and not touch anything suspicious.
CNN President Jeff Zucker has issued a statement condemning what he says are President Trump's "continued attacks on the media."
JUST IN: CNN Pres. Jeff Zucker: "There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media." https://t.co/muxQ0F793L pic.twitter.com/BiYfoBdVzB
— ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2018
Rep. Maxine Waters has issued a statement thanking law enforcement officials who intercepted a package sent to her.
NEW: Rep. Maxine Waters: "I am appreciative of the law enforcement entities who intercepted the package and are investigating this matter. I unequivocally condemn any and all acts of violence and terror.” https://t.co/muxQ0F793L pic.twitter.com/gdjfqbuWzV
— ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2018
A reported 'suspicious device' sent to New York Gov. Chris Cuomo turned out to be a thumb drive, officials said.
Vice President Joe Biden has issued a statement, saying, "This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end."
President Trump gave remarks about the explosive devices sent to Obama, Clinton, CNN and more:
"A major federal investigation is now underway," the President said Wednesday afternoon. "The full weight of our government is being deployed to...bring those responsible for these despicable acts to justice. We will spare no resources or expense in this effort."
"In these times we have to unify, we have to come together, and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message: that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America," the President said.
President Trump said, "that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America" in response to explosive devices sent to public officials. WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/Nj9pJsMSBe pic.twitter.com/8ESBsQvTzw
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) October 24, 2018
President Trump Remarks on Devices Sent to Clintons, ObamasPresident Donald J. Trump is giving remarks on the explosive devices sent to the Clintons, Obamas, CNN and other public officials. https://2wsb.tv/2Sb61tY
Posted by WSB-TV on Wednesday, October 24, 2018
A suspicious package intercepted by Capitol Hill police was addressed to Democratic California congresswoman Maxine Waters, according to ABC News.
The NYPD's chief of counter-terrorism said the explosive device sent to CNN's NYC headquarters appeared to be sent by the same person who mailed pipe bombs to Soros, Clinton and Obama.
ABC News obtained a photo of the device recovered from CNN by the NYPD bomb squad.
JUST IN: Photo obtained by @ABC shows device recovered from CNN by the NYPD bomb squad. https://t.co/U4rVcvGxWW pic.twitter.com/NUo7PPGSGK
— ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2018
New York City police commissioner says package sent to CNN contained a live explosive and envelope with white powder.
Hillary Clinton thanks Secret Service for intercepting explosive device `long before it made its way to our home.'
FBI confirms `suspicious package' went to Rep. Wasserman Schultz' office in Sunrise, Florida.
House Republican leaders say that the person or people who sent explosives to the homes of Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama should be brought to justice.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said they were "reprehensible acts" and "we cannot tolerate any attempt to terrorize public figures."
The U.S. Secret Service said Wednesday that it intercepted a bomb that was addressed to Clinton and also discovered a possible explosive sent to Obama.
Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 3 Republican in the House, said "this is a dangerous path and it cannot become the new normal." He said the attempted attacks are "pure terror."
Scalise survived life-threatening injuries after he was shot at a congressional baseball practice in 2017. He tweeted that he's experienced "first-hand the effects of political violence."
President Trump says he agreed "wholeheartedly" with the condemnation of the attempted attacks against President Obama, the Clintons and CNN.
I agree wholeheartedly! https://t.co/ndzu0A30vU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2018
CNN says the CNN Center will be putting magnetometers at the entrances to the building. "We remain vigilant regarding security concerns across all of our global locations."
Law enforcement officials told the Associated Press that the package at CNN office in NY believed to be pipe bomb.
The building housing the office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in south Florida was evacuated due to a bomb threat.
#BREAKING Building housing office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Sunrise evacuated after bomb threat pic.twitter.com/vK3QlRI3TE
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) October 24, 2018
The Atlanta Police Department told Channel 2 Action News that officers at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta have been alerted to be "watchful for suspicious activity." CNN's statement said that they are checking "all bureaus around the world, out of a complete abundance of caution."
The Carter Center in Atlanta told Channel 2 Action News that the center is on alert but there is nothing to report.
CNN head Jeff Zucker sent a note to CNN staffers which says that officials are working with NYPD to "take every precaution."
Here’s the note Jeff Zucker sent to all CNN employees pic.twitter.com/luAVbf4lBL
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 24, 2018
CNN says its offices in Manhattan have been evacuated because of a suspicious package.
The news network reported on Wednesday morning that a police bomb squad was at its offices.
The U.S. Secret Service says agents have intercepted packages containing "possible explosive devices" addressed to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Law enforcement officials say the CNN package was discovered in the mail room. It's not clear yet if it's related to the other packages.
Hillary Clinton was campaigning for Democrats in Florida and wasn't at the family's suburban New York residence when a suspicious package addressed to her was seized by the Secret Service.
Former President Bill Clinton was at the family's Chappaqua, New York, home when the package was intercepted at a Westchester County, N.Y., facility. That's according to a person familiar with his schedule who spoke on condition of anonymity and wasn't authorized to speak publicly.
The person says the device was screened at the Westchester facility and never reached the Clintons' home.
The Secret Service says the package was identified during routine mail screening procedures and the Clintons weren't at risk of receiving it.
Hillary Clinton is headlining a fundraiser Wednesday for Florida congressional candidate Donna Shalala.
The White House is condemning attempted attacks made against former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in a statement Wednesday: "These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law." She adds: "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."
The U.S. Secret Service said Wednesday that agents have intercepted packages containing "possible explosive devices" addressed to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The agency says neither Clinton nor Obama received the packages, and neither was at risk of receiving them because of screening procedures.
The U.S. Secret Service says agents have intercepted packages containing "possible explosive devices" addressed to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The agency says neither Clinton nor Obama received the packages, and neither was at risk of receiving them because of screening procedures.
It says the devices were discovered late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
A U.S. official tells The Associated Press that a "functional explosive device" was found during screening at Bill and Hillary Clintons' suburban New York home.
The official says investigators believe the explosive is linked to one found Monday at the compound of liberal billionaire George Soros.
The Secret Service says a second package was addressed to Obama and was intercepted in Washington.
Cox Media Group