Male ex-stripper faces MAGA bomber charge

WASHINGTON: A Donald Trump-loving former male stripper with a bulky criminal record has been charged over sending pipe bombs to senior Democrats and broadcaster CNN during a three-day spree that sparked terror.

The so-called “MAGA bomber” was identified as loner Cesar Altier Sayoc, 56, through a fingerprint he left on one of 14 mail bombs sent to former US presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and wife Hillary, and a slew of elite liberal figures including Hollywood star Robert De Niro.

His attacks came just over a week ahead of America’s midterm elections, ratcheting up the partisan divide and spark- ing a new blame game between both sides of US politics.

Sayoc, a former stripper and professional wrestler once charged with threatening to bomb an electricity company for trying to shut off his lights, was taken into custody outside an auto-parts store in Plantation, Florida, near Miami.

Authorities also seized a white van belonging to Sayoc, the windows of which were plastered with pro-Trump stickers, the slogan “CNN SUCKS” and images of Democratic politicians with red cross-hairs over their faces.

FBI director Christopher Wray cautioned that the arrest did not necessarily end the threat. “There may be other packages in transit now and other packages on the way,” Mr Wray said. While none of the bombs exploded, Mr Wray warned: “These are not hoax devices.”

One federal law enforcement source said authorities were investigating whether other individuals were involved and did not rule out more arrests. Sayoc’s arrest capped a nationwide manhunt for the sender of the explosive devices, who was dubbed the MAGA bomber in reference to Mr Trump’s “Make America Great Again” presidential election slogan.

Each package consisted of explosive material packed in a plastic pipe and wired to a small clock and a battery, Mr Wray said. It is not yet known whether the devices were “functional”.