U.S. PROBES PIPE BOMBS SENT TO TRUMP FOES
Trump condemns ‘political violence’, attacks media for ‘hostility’
AUTHORITIES pressed ahead yesterday with an all-out probe into who was behind pipe bombs sent to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, other top Democrats, and CNN, all of them hate figures for supporters of President Donald Trump.
Trump reacted to the rapid fire spate of bomb alerts by first calling for unity, but then reverting to attacking the media and its “endless hostility”.
The spree began on Monday with a device at the New York home of billionaire liberal donor George Soros. “So far, the devices have been what appear to be pipe bombs,” said FBI agent Bryan Paarmann.
“Whether it’s one person or a network, not sure at this point,” New York police chief James O'Neill told CNN, saying he expected those responsible to be identified and arrested within the next few days.
At least seven suspicious packages were sent in New York, Washington and Florida, including to prominent African American Democrats, Obama’s attorney-general Eric Holder and Californian lawmaker Maxine Waters.
The packages were sent in manila envelopes with bubble wrap, marked with computer-printed address labels. Each listed Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, as the sender.
A photo of the device sent to CNN showed it to be a short length of pipe wrapped in black tape, with wires stick- ing out of either end.
From the White House, Trump initially appealed for unity, saying “acts of political violence” have “no place in the United States”.
“Those engaged in the political arena must stop treating political opponents as being morally defective,” he told a campaign rally in Wisconsin.
“The media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and stop the endless hostility and constant negative, and often times false attacks and stories.”
CNN evacuated its New York bureau after the pipe bomb was found in the mailroom together with an envelope containing white powder. A bomb squad secured the device, police said.
The packaging was addressed care of CNN to former CIA director John Brennan, who has appeared on the channel as a guest and is perhaps Trump’s toughest critic from the national security community.
The Secret Service intercepted the package addressed to Clinton at the home she shares with her husband, former president Bill Clinton, north of Manhattan on Tuesday, and a second package addressed to Obama’s Washington home on Wednesday.
Two additional pipe bombs, one addressed to former vicepresident Joe Biden and the other to actor Robert De Niro, had been found, law enforcement officials said yesterday.
A law enforcement official said the envelope and printed address labels on the package sent to De Niro were similar to those on explosives sent to others.