Trudeau calls U.S. mail bombs disturbing, ‘monitoring’ situation

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is “closely monitoring” a mail bombing campaign targeting prominent Democrats and critics of President Donald Trump.

Trudeau used his opening statement at an event on Thursday with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte to stress the importance of the media, following a Trump tweet which blamed the media for triggering the attacks in the first place.

“These reports are deeply concerning,” Trudeau said. “All citizens deserve to live in peace and security and a free press is foundational in any democracy. We must ensure that they can do their important work without fear.”

Rutte, standing next to Trudeau on Parliament Hill, said “I completely agree.”

At least 10 bombs were mailed in recent days to homes and offices of former President Barack Obama, Trump’s presidential campaign opponent Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Joe Biden, and a number of other politicians and public figures including actor Robert De Niro.

One of the packages was sent to former CIA director John Brennan, at CNN’s offices in New York City.

Trump used Twitter to suggest the media are to blame.

“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 tweeted Thursday morning. “It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”

U.S. officials are scrambling to trace the mail bombs, the first of which appears to have been sent to philanthropist George Soros who has been openly critical of Trump, calling him a “danger to the world.”

Additional bombs were intercepted by the U.S. Secret Service agents protecting Clinton and Obama on Wednesday.

Former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder and Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Walters also received bomb packages.

Brennan responded to

Trump’s tweet with a sharp rebuke, saying his critics would not be “intimidated into silence.”

“Stop blaming others,” he wrote. “Look in the mirror. Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, and encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act. Try to act Presidential. The American people deserve much better.”

Canada “as always” is ready to help if the United States needs and asks for assistance, Trudeau said.