US mail bomb suspect held
Authorities term the sending of explosives just days before elections as an act of terrorism
WASHINGTON: A man was taken into custody in Florida on Friday in connection with the mailing of 12 pipe bombs, including two new ones intercepted earlier in the day, to leading critics of US President Donald Trump.
“I am pleased to inform you that law enforcement has apprehended the suspect and taken him into custody,” Trump said, calling the mailing of the explosives as “terrorising acts (that) are despicable and have no place in our country.”
Media reports identified the suspect as Cesar Sayoc Jr, a 56-year-old resident of Aventura, Florida. He was arrested from outside his workplace in the city of Plantation.
News footage showed FBI agents in Florida covering a van with blue tarp , which was then driven away aboard a carrier. Picture of Trump and Vice-president Mike Pence could be seen on the van, the presidential seal and the Republican party symbol. One sticker read, “CNN sucks”.
DNA prints from the packages and his cellphone were reported to have played a role in his arrest. He had been under surveillance for the past 24 hours.
The intended recipients of the packages discovered on Friday were Democratic senator Cory Booker and former director of national intelligence James Clapper. They fit the pattern that has emerged so far: both are strident critics of Trump and frequent targets of his attacks. Booker is said to be considering a run for the White House in 2020 against Trump if he wins the Democratic primaries.
Trump, who had earlier called for unity, also attacked his opponents, critics and media for holding him responsible for the bitterly divisive political climate in the country that may have motivated those behind the packages, that started arriving last Monday. On Friday, he said the “bombs” were a distraction.
“Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this “Bomb” stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!” he tweeted.
The package for Booker was intercepted at a mailing facility in Florida. The one meant for Clapper was found at a facility in New York, addressed to CNN’S offices — the EX-DNI appears frequently on the channel as an expert on national security.
The packages started being noticed on Monday, with the first gong to George Soros, a billionaire supporter of the Democratic party. Similar packages meant for former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton were intercepted on Tuesday, and the rest followed. There have been no injuries or damages. Each package is contained in a mania envelope, with bubble-wrap lining in the inside. The pipe bombs have been described as rudimentary but functional.