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As it happenedended

US bomb threats: At least six suspicious packages sent to Obamas, Clintons and news media organisations across America

Donald Trump says acts were 'domestic terrorism'

Mythili Sampathkumar
New York
Wednesday 24 October 2018 17:24 EDT
Comments
Alarm goes off in CNN newsroom while on air as Time Warner Center evacuated

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Donald Trump has called the several packages containing explosive devices or suspected of containing them, acts of "domestic terrorism".

Mr Trump, addressing the situation at the White House, said it was "egregious" and said the American people need "to unify, we have to come together".

Suspected explosive devices have been sent to both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and packages suspected of containing such devices were sent to former US Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA Director John Brennan, and US House Democrat Maxine Waters. The series of incidents come just two days after a bomb was sent to the home of billionaire George Soros.

The packages to the Clintons, Obamas, and Ms Waters were intercepted before reaching any of them.

Another package containing a “live” explosive device and “white powder” was sent to the mailroom of CNN at their offices in the Time Warner Building in Manhattan, just a few steps away from a Trump International Hotel.

House Democrat and former chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida was listed as the sender/return address on the packages to the Clintons, Obamas, and Mr Brennan.

Her name, as well as Mr Brennan’s, was misspelled on the CNN package. Mr Brennan does not work for the network, but frequently appears on MSNBC.

An additional package was also sent to the Manhattan office of Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, but it was deemed as “safe” by the New York Police Department and contained a USB drive of “literature”.

Yet another package was labelled as “suspicious” in the building housing a district office of Democratic Senator Kamala Harris and the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper in San Diego, California. It was also deemed safe by police and was not addressed to the senator.

Follow the news updates as they happened

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It appears the package at Ms Schultz's office was actually addressed to another prominent Democrat, former US Attorney General Eric Holder

It is unclear what is in the package, but Ms Schultz was listed as the return address - as she was on the packages mailed to the Obamas and Clintons. 

The package had an incorrect address for Mr Holder and was then returned to her office. 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 17:47

NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said the bomb squad has secured the explosive device, a pipe bomb, and confirmed: "There was an envelope containing white powder".

They are investigating the envelope's contents but Mr O'Neill said there were "no additional" threats found, but the police are staying vigilant. 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 17:51

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said the bomb being sent to CNN at the Time Warner Building was an "effort to terrorise". 

He characterised it as someone "attempting undermine free press" but assured the city's residents police were continuing to investigate and "out in force to protect the people of this city". 

The "people of New York City will not be intimidated," he said, adding that the "very concept of terrorism is to change us and we will not allow that to happen," he noted. 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 17:53

The suspicious package sent to the building housing the offices of the San Diego Tribune newspaper and the district offices of Democrat Senator Kamala Harris in San Diego, California, is still being investigated. 

It is unclear at this time if the incident is connected to the others from earlier today. 

Read more here: 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 17:57

John Miller of the NYPD said the package sent to CNN appeared to be "live" but has been taken to Rodman's Neck, a police weapons facility in the Bronx borough of New York City just north of Manhattan. 

Mr Miller said the bomb, as well as the package found at the Clintons' residence in Chappaqua, New York, will be sent to the FBI for further analysis. 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 18:01

The subway station at Columbus Circle where the Time Warner building and CNN's office are located as well as a few surrounding buildings on 58th Street have been temporarily shut down in order for police to clear them. 

The device in question has been secured, however. 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 18:07

"We wouldn't be at all surprised if more devices show up," said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo during a news conference. 

"It's part of who we are. This is New York...we refuse to be intimidated," he said. 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 18:08
Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 18:14

During a news conference about the CNN incident, Mr Cuomo confirmed a suspicious package had been sent to his office as well. 

NYPD had declined to give specifics of explosive device sent the governor's Manhattan office, but did say it was "consistent with other devices."

Mr Cuomo's spokesperson had initially denied the package had been sent. It remains unclear when this package was sent or the names and addresses listed on the package. 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 18:16

Watch Mr Cuomo address what state and city officials are calling an act terrorism on CNN: 

Mythili Sampathkumar24 October 2018 18:17

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