Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAIL BOMB BLITZ ON OBAMA & CLINTONS
CNN among other targets as Secret Service foils plot
A Pipe-bomb maker was being hunted by the US Secret Service last night after explosive devices were mailed to the homes of former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Agents intercepted both “suspicious packages” before they could be delivered.
The first was addressed to ex-first Lady Hillary Clinton at the house she and husband Bill own in Chappaqua, New York state. It was recovered late on Tuesday.
Another was delivered to billionaire philanthropist George Soros that day. The six-inch length of pipe, filled with explosive powder, was found in his New York home’s mailbox and safely detonated.
Yesterday a third device was prevented from reaching the Washington DC home of Mr Obama and wife Michelle – and a pipe bomb was delivered to CNN’S newsroom. It was addressed to EX-CIA director John Brennan, who often appears on the news channel. The Time Warner Center in New York where it is based was evacuated and police removed the bomb.
Another suspect parcel, for California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, was yesterday intercepted by police. A sixth was intended for ex-attorney General Eric Holder but had the wrong address.
The Secret Service said the packages sent to the Clintons and Obamas
“were immediately identified in routine mail screening as potential explosive devices”.
It added: “The protectees didn’t receive them and weren’t at risk of doing so. We have initiated a full-scope crime investigation to find the source of the parcels and identify those responsible.” The bomb delivered to CNN also contained white powder in an envelope, said police.
Every intended recipient has been a constant target for criticism by Donald Trump. All are Democrat politicians or supporters except Mr Brennan, whose security clearance was revoked by the Republican President after launching public attacks on Mr Trump.
Also, the bogus return address on the Soros, Brennan and Holder parcels was the Florida office of Democrat Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Mr Holder’s misaddressed package was sent on to her Florida office – and a bomb squad unit aided by firefighters raced to it as the growing danger emerged.
Mrs Clinton, who stood against Mr Trump in the 2016 presidential election, said last night: “My family and I are fine, thanks to the Secret Service.”
Mr Trump said: “Acts or threats of political violence have no place in the United States. This egregious conduct is abhorrent”
A suspect package was yesterday sent to New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s office but was later ruled “non-hazardous”. Mr Cuomo said: “I won’t be surprised if more devices show up.”